Mastering the APRM: Creating Your Submission

The document explains the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as a voluntary process for African governments and citizens to assess governance and implement reforms. It outlines a five-step methodology for civil society organisations (CSOs) to create effective written submissions: identifying a focused issue, gathering evidence from diverse sources, developing persuasive arguments, building consensus through circulation, and submitting to the correct official bodies. The guide emphasises that evidence-backed submissions are more impactful than oral presentations and provides examples of successful advocacy by groups in Uganda and South Africa.

• The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a voluntary process where participating countries undergo a review of governance across four thematic areas: Democracy and Political Governance, Economic Governance, Corporate Governance, and Socio-Economic Development.
• The APRM process follows a structured sequence: a government signs a Memorandum of Understanding, a National Governing Council (NGC) and Technical Research Institutes (TRIs) draft a Country Self-Assessment Report and a Programme of Action (POA), and a Country Review Mission conducts an independent study.
• Civil society organisations (CSOs) are encouraged to proactively assert their right to participate rather than waiting for government invitations, as governments may use their knowledge to restrict information to 'friendly' groups.
• Effective submissions must be evidence-based to persuade policymakers; recommended sources include the organisation's own reports, government publications, auditor-general's reports, media reports, and documents from the World Bank and UN.
• Written submissions are considered more durable and effective for detailed arguments than oral presentations at workshops or conferences, which are often less effective for expressing complexity.
• To maximise impact, submissions should not only highlight failures but also identify strengths and propose specific, evidence-backed solutions to be incorporated into the government's Programme of Action.
• Successful engagement with the APRM requires strategic distribution of submissions to multiple entities, including the National Governing Council, the Secretariat, Parliament, the media, and the Panel of Eminent Persons.
• Case studies demonstrate that focused advocacy can work: the Minority Rights Group International in Uganda successfully pushed for minority issues in the POA, and the Open Democracy Advice Centre in South Africa promoted laws on access to information and whistleblower protection.

APA

Corrigan, T. (2008). Mastering the APRM: Creating Your Submission. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/aprm_boo_corrigan_20080630_en.pdf

Chicago

Corrigan, Terence. Mastering the APRM: Creating Your Submission. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2008. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/aprm_boo_corrigan_20080630_en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Corrigan |first1=Terence |title=Mastering the APRM: Creating Your Submission |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/aprm_boo_corrigan_20080630_en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{corrigan2008mastering, author = {Corrigan, Terence}, title = {{Mastering the APRM: Creating Your Submission}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/aprm_boo_corrigan_20080630_en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }