Handbook for African Civil Society

The Handbook for African Civil Society outlines the operational framework of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), a tool for intra-African governance review. It details the five stages of the review process—from self-assessment to official publication—and the continental and national structures that manage it. The guide emphasizes that CSOs must take proactive leadership 'upstream' rather than waiting for government invitations to ensure their interests are represented in National Governance Commissions and National Programmes of Action. It identifies four key review areas: democracy and political governance, economic governance, corporate governance, and socio-economic development. The document also analyzes barriers to CSO engagement, such as fear of governments, lack of resources, and internal disorganization, while offering strategies to influence power centers including the APRM Panel, the Continental Secretariat, and national parliaments.

• The APRM process consists of five distinct stages: preparation and national self-assessment, the country review mission, drafting of the mission report, submission of the country review report (CRR) for peer review, and the final presentation and official publication of the report.
• The APRM operates through continental institutions—including the Forum of Heads of State and Government, the Panel of Eminent Persons, and the Continental Secretariat—and national institutions such as the APRM focal point and the National Governance Commission (NGC).
• The mechanism evaluates four primary thematic areas: democracy and political governance, economic governance, corporate governance, and socio-economic development.
• To avoid a power imbalance, civil society organizations are advised to exercise leadership 'upstream' by organizing and planning their role before the official launch of national reviews, rather than waiting for government invitations.
• CSOs face several systemic obstacles to participation, including fear of government retaliation, internal disorganization or dispersion, 'turf wars' between organizations, lack of financial and intellectual resources, and the technical complexity of the APRM process.
• Effective CSO influence requires strategic engagement with multiple power levels, including the Panel of Eminent Persons (as a neutral arbiter), the Continental Secretariat, independent African experts, and national parliamentarians.
• The media is identified as a critical lever for simplifying the technical aspects of the APRM for the general public and providing checks and balances against government manipulation of the process.
• Lessons from early APRM countries—including Algeria, Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa—highlight the necessity of CSOs adopting common positions and submitting detailed analytical reports to the NGC and the Panel to ensure credibility.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2008). Handbook for African Civil Society. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Handbook-for-African.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Handbook for African Civil Society. 2008. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Handbook-for-African.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Handbook for African Civil Society |date=June 2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Handbook-for-African.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2008handbook, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Handbook for African Civil Society}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Handbook-for-African.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }