Handbook for African Civil Society

The Handbook for African Civil Society is a guide designed to help civil society organizations (CSOs) actively participate in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It outlines the APRM's five stages of review, its continental and national institutional structures, and the four thematic areas of governance it assesses. The manual provides strategic advice for CSOs to move from passive participants to leaders in the process, highlighting potential obstacles such as government fear and resource scarcity, while offering methods to influence power levels within the mechanism to promote good governance and socio-economic development in Africa.

• The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a voluntary, self-monitoring tool for African Union member states to foster political stability, economic growth, and sustainable development through the sharing of best practices and the identification of deficiencies.
• The APRM process consists of five distinct stages: preparation and national self-assessment (resulting in a country self-assessment report and a national programme of action), a country review mission by independent African experts, the drafting of a mission report, a peer review by the Forum of Heads of State and Government, and the final 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 based in Midrand, South Africa—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 (focusing on popular participation and accountability), economic governance (transparency in financial management and macroeconomic policies), corporate governance (accountability and ethics in public and private companies), and socio-economic development (welfare, poverty reduction, and gender equality).
• To be effective, civil society organizations (CSOs) are advised to take a leadership role 'upstream' by planning their involvement before the official launch of national reviews, rather than waiting for government invitations, to avoid a power imbalance.
• CSOs face several obstacles in the APRM process, including fear of governments (who may view the process as a political tool for opposition), internal disorganization and 'turf wars' among CSOs, a lack of financial and intellectual resources, and the highly technical nature of the review process.
• The manual emphasizes that the credibility of the APRM depends on the qualitative representation of CSOs in National Governance Commissions; if CSO leaders lack the necessary expertise and stature, the intellectual balance of power shifts in favor of the government.
• The media is identified as a critical lever for the APRM's success, capable of simplifying technical information for the public, providing checks and balances against government manipulation, and broadcasting in national languages to reach wider audiences.
• The document highlights the importance of involving often-marginalized national actors, such as parliamentarians, senates, the judiciary, and economic and social councils, to strengthen the push for good governance.

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} }