The African Peer Review Mechanism at 20: Good governance remains an unevenly met goal

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) was established in 2003 to promote good governance through peer reviews and National Programmes of Action. While it has expanded to 43 member states and seen a leadership-driven turnaround under CEO Prof Eddy Maloka since 2016, the mechanism faces challenges including slow throughput, delayed publication of reports, and a lack of progress in governance outcomes. Data from the Ibrahim Index of African Governance and Afrobarometer suggest that governance on the continent has remained steady or declined despite the APRM's efforts.

• The APRM has grown to 43 member states as of February 2023, though the pace of reviews remains slow; only 60% (26 states) have completed a first review, and only five countries—Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda—have undergone a second review.
• The mechanism has been hindered by a lack of political will and funding in some member states, such as Angola and Malawi, and by significant delays in making Country Review Reports (CRRs) public, sometimes taking years beyond the intended six-month window.
• Under the leadership of CEO Prof Eddy Maloka since 2016, the APRM was reinvigorated, gained a stable budget through full incorporation into the African Union, and received an expanded mandate to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals and the governance aspects of Agenda 2063.
• Despite the APRM's activities and a cumulative member income of $48.8 million between 2003 and 2018, evidence from Afrobarometer and the Ibrahim Index of African Governance indicates that governance across the continent has not improved and may have declined.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2023). The African Peer Review Mechanism at 20: Good governance remains an unevenly met goal. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-african-peer-review-mechanism-at-20-good-governance-remains-an-unevenly-met-goal/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The African Peer Review Mechanism at 20: Good governance remains an unevenly met goal. 2023. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-african-peer-review-mechanism-at-20-good-governance-remains-an-unevenly-met-goal/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The African Peer Review Mechanism at 20: Good governance remains an unevenly met goal |date=16 March 2023 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/the-african-peer-review-mechanism-at-20-good-governance-remains-an-unevenly-met-goal/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2023african, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The African Peer Review Mechanism at 20: Good governance remains an unevenly met goal}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/the-african-peer-review-mechanism-at-20-good-governance-remains-an-unevenly-met-goal/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }