Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Civil Society Training Workshop Via Zoom, 20 May 2020, 10h00-12h30 Report

This report details a Zoom training workshop held on 20 May 2020, organized by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO). The session aimed to sensitize Botswana's civil society organisations (CSOs) on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), identifying entry points for their involvement and sharing lessons from Namibia and Zambia to build capacity for Botswana's governance self-assessment process.

• The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), established in 2003, is a voluntary governance self-assessment tool for African countries. It focuses on four thematic areas: Socio-Economic Development, Corporate Governance, Economic Governance and Management, and Democracy and Political Governance. The process involves a country review by a multi-stakeholder initiative including government, private sector, and civil society, leading to a National Programme of Action (NPoA) to address governance challenges.
• In Namibia, CSOs faced challenges including a lack of an active umbrella organization, which hindered cohesion, and financial constraints that limited the inclusion of CSOs located outside the capital. Additionally, tensions existed with the Office of the Presidency, where some officials perceived CSOs as being opposed to the government.
• The Zambian APRM process was notably lengthy, spanning from accession in 2006 to completion in 2014. To maintain momentum and pressure stakeholders, Zambian CSOs utilized media outlets to broadcast initiatives. A significant ongoing challenge in Zambia is monitoring the NPoA, specifically when conflicts arise between the NPoA and the National Development Plan.
• For Botswana's process, SAIIA has revised its budget due to COVID-19 to fund a background study on governance and short inputs on 12 key issues. CSOs are encouraged to identify these issues independently of government influence, provide constructive criticism based on evidence, and ensure joint ownership of written submissions through a collaborative drafting process.
• The National Governing Council (NGC) is a critical structure for CSO involvement. In Namibia, the NGC was initially dominated by ruling party affiliates, requiring CSOs to challenge the composition to ensure inclusivity. The APRM Secretariat emphasizes that the NGC should be inclusive but not overly large to avoid stalemates.
• There are no effective punitive measures for governments that fail to comply with their National Programme of Action (NPoA). While the framework mentions that "measures" can be taken, this has not been invoked, with the exception of Mauritania, which saw APRM activities suspended following a coup d'état and subsequent African Union suspension.

APA

Zikalala, N. M. (2020). Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Civil Society Training Workshop Via Zoom, 20 May 2020, 10h00-12h30 Report. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BAPS-Zoom-Workshop-Report-20-May-2020-002.pdf

Chicago

Zikalala, Nhlakanipho Macmillan. Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Civil Society Training Workshop Via Zoom, 20 May 2020, 10h00-12h30 Report. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2020. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BAPS-Zoom-Workshop-Report-20-May-2020-002.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Zikalala |first1=Nhlakanipho Macmillan |title=Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Civil Society Training Workshop Via Zoom, 20 May 2020, 10h00-12h30 Report |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=20 May 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BAPS-Zoom-Workshop-Report-20-May-2020-002.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{zikalala2020botswana, author = {Zikalala, Nhlakanipho Macmillan}, title = {{Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Civil Society Training Workshop Via Zoom, 20 May 2020, 10h00-12h30 Report}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BAPS-Zoom-Workshop-Report-20-May-2020-002.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }