CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: THE APRM PROCESS AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN BENIN __________________________________________________________________________ same time, the APR Secretariat develops a background document on the country. This document is drafted on the basis of documentary research and on recent and relevant information about the state of governance and development in the country. It covers the four focus areas. 6. Phase Two is the country review visit. Under the direction of the APR Panel, the CRM visits the country concerned. Its priority is to add to the CSAR by holding as many consultations as possible with government, officials, political parties, parliamentarians, representatives of civil society organisations, the media, the academia, trade unions, business and professional bodies. Its main objectives are to:  learn about the perspectives of the different stakeholders on governance in the country;  clarify the challenges identified in the documents on issues not addressed in the country’s preliminary programme of action; and  build consensus on how such issues could be addressed. 7. It is important to note that the country plays a mainly facilitative role during the visit to ensure that the CRM can carry out its review efficiently. The CRM has full access to all sources of information and to the different stakeholders, as is provided for in the MOU on the Technical Assessment Mission and on the CRM signed by the country and the APRM. 8. During Phase Three the report of the review mission is drafted. It is based on the CSAR, the background documents, questions prepared by the APR Secretariat, and on information obtained from both official and unofficial sources during the wide-ranging consultations held with stakeholders during the review visit. 9. The draft report: 10. 34  considers the applicable political, economic, corporate governance and socioeconomic development commitments made in the preliminary programme of action;  identifies any remaining weaknesses; and  recommends further actions to be included in the final programme of action. The draft report is first examined by the panel, its official author. It should be clear about the specific actions to be taken in cases where major issues have been identified. The draft report is first discussed with the government concerned to ensure the accuracy of its information. This, therefore, is an opportunity for the government to react to the CRM’s findings and to formulate its own views on the weaknesses that have been identified and which must be corrected. The government’s responses should be appended to the CRM’s report on its findings and the recommendations made in the draft

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