APRM’s Economic Governance and Management Standards: What civil society should look for

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) provides a framework for civil society organisations (CSOs) to use the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to monitor government management of public resources. The authors argue that the APRM's Economic Governance and Management section is often too technocratic for CSOs, and they propose five evidence-based indicators—strategic planning, expenditure management, internal controls, handling of resource abuse, and accountability to oversight institutions—to help citizens ensure the progressive realisation of socio-economic rights.

• The authors argue that the Economic Governance and Management Section of the APRM questionnaire is often ignored by civil society organisations because its formulation is "technocratic, poorly structured and often vague". This prevents CSOs from using the mechanism to advocate for the realisation of socio-economic rights, such as housing, health care, and education.
• Effective strategic planning is identified as the foundation for public service delivery. The authors highlight that failures in this area often stem from outdated needs-analysis, lack of stakeholder consultation, and a failure to account for internal capacity constraints. For example, the Eastern Cape Department of Housing in South Africa underspent its 2003/04 budget by R178 million (17%) partly because its strategic plans did not account for a 35% staff vacancy rate reported in 2002/03.
• Sound expenditure management requires robust internal financial controls to prevent wasteful spending and transparent procurement processes. The paper cites the Eastern Cape Department of Health, which in the 2003/04 financial year incurred over R258 million in "unauthorised, fruitless or wasteful expenditure" due to inadequate risk management and financial systems.
• The paper emphasizes the necessity of internal controls and regular performance reporting to ensure accountability. It suggests that departments should produce monthly financial reports and quarterly performance reports. A lack of such oversight was evident in the Eastern Cape Department of Health during 2003/04, where the absence of an internal Audit Committee led to "widespread public complaints of failed health service delivery".
• Combatting the misuse and abuse of resources requires a combination of clear codes of conduct, mandatory financial interest declarations for public officials, and independent anti-corruption authorities. The authors note that even when the Auditor-General identifies serious financial misconduct, a lack of political will can prevent disciplinary action, as seen in the Eastern Cape where senior officials allegedly committed misconduct but faced no disciplinary hearings.
• Effective accountability depends on the strength of oversight institutions, such as supreme audit institutions and parliamentary committees. The authors point out that parliamentary resolutions are often ignored; between 1995 and 2002, not a single resolution from the Eastern Cape Standing Committee on Public Accounts was implemented by the province's 12 government departments.

APA

Allan, C., & Overy, N. (2009). APRM’s Economic Governance and Management Standards: What civil society should look for. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Occasional-Paper-20.pdf

Chicago

Allan, Colm, and Neil Overy. APRM’s Economic Governance and Management Standards: What civil society should look for. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2009. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Occasional-Paper-20.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Allan |first1=Colm |last2=Overy |first2=Neil |title=APRM’s Economic Governance and Management Standards: What civil society should look for |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=January 2009 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Occasional-Paper-20.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allan2009aprms, author = {Allan, Colm and Overy, Neil}, title = {{APRM’s Economic Governance and Management Standards: What civil society should look for}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2009}, month = jan, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Occasional-Paper-20.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }