Chapter I: Introduction 20. Since 1994 there has been a growing acknowledgement across Africa, and the globe at large, that governance matters – what happens internally and how governments rule, regulate and relate to their citizens is vital for peace, development, growth and prosperity. Bridging the Generation Gap 28. Tracing the history of the APRM is essential to understanding its current relationship with the AU. 29. The APRM is rooted in the October 2001 document outlining the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which recognised that “development is impossible in the absence of true democracy, respect for human rights, peace and good governance” and committed Africa’s leaders to respect these African and global principles and standards. 21. With the turn of the new millennium, this led to the founding of new institutions including the African Union (AU) and its organs such as the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the African Court of Justice and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (ECOSOCC), and new initiatives such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). 30. The NEPAD founding document further described the development of two interlinked “initiatives” on “democracy and political governance” and “economic and corporate governance”, which represent several core elements of the APRM: voluntary accession, mutual support and targeted capacity building, peer learning, shared values and standards, commitment to fostering good governance practices and democratic processes, and building institutions to realise these commitments, and to monitor and assess progress. 22. The APRM, the Continent’s home-grown governance, self-monitoring and peer learning mechanism, was born into the African political landscape thanks to the creativity, commitment and vision of African leaders who realised at the time that good governance is a prerequisite for the sustainable and inclusive development of the Continent. 23. This commitment to transform the Continent through sustainable and inclusive development contributed to and culminated in the launching of Agenda 2063 on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)/AU in 2013. 31. The APRM is unique among AU bodies and programmes in that accession is voluntary. Although not all AU members have joined the APRM, this Strategic Plan contains plans to continue the drive towards universal membership. Growing Recognition of the APRM 24. The APRM aims to play a central role in supporting, monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the commitments contained in Agenda 2063 and, potentially, in the Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, presently under negotiation and scheduled for completion in 2017. 32. Despite the challenges mentioned earlier, the APRM has continued to grow in acceptance and membership. Successive Summits – from Abuja in 2003, Algiers in 2007 and Sharm El-Sheikh in 2008 to Malabo in 2014 – placed emphasis on the APRM as a voluntary, home-grown mechanism that was designed to assist member states adopt progressive approaches to good political, economic and corporate governance, democratisation and social justice, as well as to fight corruption. Resilience 25. Since its establishment, the APRM has achieved much success and contributed to resuscitating hope among African countries and citizens. 26. The APRM has also encountered its share of challenges, ranging from management deficiencies to waning political and financial support. 33. At the more recent Special Summit of the Heads of State and Government Participating in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APR Forum) held on 29 January 2016, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya and current Chairperson of the APR Forum, called for “renewed commitment to the APRM by the Member States to enable the Mechanism to fulfil the mandate” and “commended 27. But, despite the challenges faced in securing and sustaining the confidence of leaders, citizens and funders, and administrative difficulties, the APRM has evolved into a key building block in the African Governance Architecture (AGA). –4–