Introduction: The APRM and its Implementation in Mauritius Chapter 1 experiences of successful and best practices as well as by consolidating them. Thereafter, it hopes to build competence by identifying the deficiencies in, and assessing the requisites for, capacity building. Box 1.1: Chapter 1 3. So far, 29 member countries of the AU have voluntarily acceded to the APRM. Accession signifies the commitment of the signatory to be periodically peer-reviewed, to be guided by the agreed mechanisms, and to commit itself to achieving good political, economic and corporate governance and socioeconomic development in its National Programme of Action (NPoA). 4. The APRM process comprises five successive phases. These phases are defined in the APRM Base Document and are described briefly below. 5. Phase one is a preparatory phase, both at the level of the APR Secretariat and at national level. Under the direction of the APR Panel, the Secretariat forwards a questionnaire, covering the four focus areas of the APRM, to the country to be reviewed. With the assistance, if necessary, of the APR Secretariat and/or relevant partner institutions, the country uses the questionnaire to conduct a self-assessment exercise. After completing the self-assessment, the country formulates a preliminary NPoA that builds on existing policies, programmes and projects. Both the Country Self-Assessment Report (CSAR) and the preliminary NPoA are then submitted to the APR Secretariat. At the 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 obtained regarding 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 Country Review Mission (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, academia, trade unions, and business and professional bodies. The CRM’s main objectives are to: • • • APRM activity report Widely proclaimed as the jewel in NEPAD’s crown, the APRM is a unique exercise intended to facilitate the exchange of information and best practices among peers. It is based on mutual trust and confidence in the process. It is also a commitment to African governance for Africans and serves as a tool for implementing the codes and standards enshrined in the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance, and for achieving socioeconomic development. National ownership and leadership by participating countries are essential to the effectiveness of such a process. This includes leadership as practised in other existing national processes, such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the National Human Rights Action Plans, strategies for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), ongoing institutional reforms and other poverty reduction strate-gies, as well as other relevant governance and socioeconomic development strategies, programmes and projects. Twenty-nine member countries of the AU have thus far voluntarily acceded to the APRM. Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda were the first 15 countries to accede. Benin and Egypt signed the MoU at the AU Extraordinary Summit held in Sirte, Libya, in February 2004. In July 2004, five other countries – Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Tanzania – acceded during the AU Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Later, two more countries – Sudan and Zambia – acceded during the African Peer Review (APR) Forum Summit in Khartoum, Sudan, in January 2006. São Tomé & Príncipe signed the MoU during the NEPAD Implementation Committee meeting held in Addis Ababa in January 2007, and Djibouti acceded during the Forum Summit held in Accra, Ghana, in July 2007. Mauritania signed the MoU to accede to the APRM in January 2008, in Addis Ababa; the country was subsequently suspended from the membership after the unconstitutional change of power in the country, but was recently restored after the sanction was lifted by the AU. Togo became the 29th member of the APRM by signing the MoU in June 2008, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Cape Verde has been formally accepted as a member by the APR Forum, but has not yet signed the MoU. Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius and Rwanda were the first countries in which reviews were launched (in 2004). So far, peer reviews have been carried out in a further 12 countries: Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria, Benin, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali, Mozambique and Lesotho. These countries were peer-reviewed at the APR Forum Summits in Khartoum, Banjul, Accra, Addis Ababa, Sharm El Sheikh, Cotonou and Sirte. 42 Introduction: The APRM and its Implementation in Mauritius Learn about the different stakeholders’ perspectives on governance in the country. Clarify the challenges identified in the documents on issues not addressed in the country’s preliminary NPoA. Build consensus on how such issues could be addressed. 43