NEPAD/HGSIC-3-2003/APRM/Guideline/O&P 9 March 2003 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Technical Assessment and Country Review Visit using the outline provided. 7.2 When the Memorandum of Understanding between the APR Forum and the Government is signed the stage is set for the APR process to start. As the APR process is conceived as a collaborative effort between the participating country and the APRM to improve governance and socio-economic development in the country and in Africa, their respective roles will be outlined in the following sections. Stage One 7.3 The country to be reviewed will take necessary steps to prepare for the APR process, especially to prepare the country Programme of Action as envisaged in paragraph 13 of APRM Base Document, and the supply of information to the APR Secretariat. 7.4 At continental level, Stage One will involve a study of the political, economic and corporate governance and development environment in the country to be reviewed, based principally on up-to-date background documentation prepared by the APR Secretariat and material provided by national, sub-regional, regional and international institutions. 7.5 This will include the following activities: a. Gather information on the situation in the country, including official government documents, reports to treaty and other bodies, recent selfassessments and reviews done by standard issuing bodies, and reports by other recognised international bodies; b. Make careful analysis of the available information in terms of the APRM objectives, standards, criteria and indicators; Page 11 of 17