Chapter III: Situational Analysis 3.1 Continental Assessment of Trends in Governance (vii) Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner. The seventeen SDGs for 2030 are aimed at achieving improvements in poverty reduction, food security, health, education, gender equality, access to water and energy, economic transformation, infrastructure development, reduction of inequality, improved habitation and consumption, resilience to climate change, protection of marine and other ecosystems, the building of peace institutions and overall sustainability. 74. Since APRM’s inception in March 2003, the Member States have been assessed on four main thematic areas, namely Democracy and Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Corporate Governance, and Socioeconomic Development. The 17 reviews completed in its first 13 years have identified a number of best practices but also common challenges. The latter in particular include electoral disputes that sometimes degenerate into violent conflicts, youth unemployment, persistent gender inequality, and inadequate structural transformation. Other challenges that require increased attention from the APRM process include such security challenges that result from radicalisation and extremism. Moreover, the governance and regional integration priorities on the Continent had been revised in the years since the creation of APRM in 2003, with new priorities epitomised by AU Agenda 2063 as agreed on in 2013–2014, and the African common position on the 2030 SDGs as finalised in 2015. (i) a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development; 76. Both the AU Agenda 2063 and the 2030 SDGs have a bearing on APRM’s work, and the APRM Strategic Plan should allow AU member states to adopt and adapt a common tracking framework based on APRM tools for progress monitoring in respect of national programmes of action. This will also complement the roles of other African Union structures, organs and Regional Economic Communities tasked with implementing Agenda 2063 and the 2030 SDGs. This may call for a network of APRM stakeholders to examine the response to Africa’s governance and reporting challenges. It will also be important to bring on board other potential strategic partners such as the African Capacity Building Foundation and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation due to the roles they play in African Governance. (ii) an integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance; 3.2 Institutional Analysis 75. Agenda 2063 comprises seven aspirations namely: 77. In this section we subject the APRM to a SWOT analysis so as to recognise institutional strengths, appreciate the risks, grasp and build on the opportunities, and anticipate and take steps to prevent threats from materialising or at least mitigate their consequences. Table 3.1 presents the institutional analysis. (iii) an Africa of good governance, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law; (iv) a peaceful and secure Africa; (v) an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics; (vi) an Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children; and –14–