TEN REASONS TO KEEP FAITH WITH AFRICA’S PEER REVIEW PROCESS

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), arguing that despite criticisms regarding its ability to hold heads of state accountable, the system has successfully institutionalized governance monitoring, spurred national reforms, and promoted peer learning across the continent.

• The APRM has established a unique, African-led framework for accountability that challenges the traditional notion of absolute state sovereignty. While critics argue that heads of state are not sufficiently questioned on issues like post-election violence in Kenya or constitutional manipulation in Algeria and Uganda, the mechanism provides a regular, institutionalized platform for leaders to share problems and debate development paths.
• The mechanism has seen significant growth in membership and operational efficiency. As of May 2010, 29 African countries—representing over 75% of the continent's population—have voluntarily joined, with Cape Verde expected to be the 30th. The pace of reviews has accelerated from the first review of Ghana in January 2006 to a total of 15 reviews by July 2010, including Ethiopia and Mauritius.
• Country Review Reports provide frank assessments of governance, identifying 'cross-cutting' or 'over-arching' issues such as corruption, dominant executives, and insufficient separation of powers. These public reports have specifically diagnosed xenophobic tensions in South Africa and election-related ethnic violence in Kenya.
• The APRM has led to tangible governance reforms through National Programmes of Action. Ghana established a ministry of chieftaincy and cultural affairs and passed laws on whistleblowers and human trafficking; Kenya established 148 peace committees and informed its proposed new constitution; and Rwanda was praised by the World Bank's 2010 Doing Business survey for business reforms.
• The process empowers citizens by requiring participatory assessments and the creation of multi-stakeholder councils. This has opened political space for collaboration between governments, opposition parties, and civil society, particularly in countries where such groups were previously viewed as 'enemies'.
• The mechanism facilitates peer learning and the profiling of 'best practices' to counter negative perceptions of Africa. Examples include Nigeria's Technical Aid Programme and South Africa's low-cost mzansi accounts. Additionally, countries like Ghana and Kenya pioneered research systems that were adopted by other member states.
• The APRM receives substantial international financial support, with bilateral and multilateral partners contributing nearly $13 million between 2003 and 2009. Member state contributions totaled $20.5 million in the same period, with Algeria, Nigeria, and South Africa providing more than half of that amount.

APA

Gruzd, S. (2010). TEN REASONS TO KEEP FAITH WITH AFRICA’S PEER REVIEW PROCESS. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Policy-Briefing-17.pdf

Chicago

Gruzd, Steven. TEN REASONS TO KEEP FAITH WITH AFRICA’S PEER REVIEW PROCESS. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2010. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Policy-Briefing-17.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gruzd |first1=Steven |title=TEN REASONS TO KEEP FAITH WITH AFRICA’S PEER REVIEW PROCESS |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=17 May 2010 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Policy-Briefing-17.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gruzd2010ten, author = {Gruzd, Steven}, title = {{TEN REASONS TO KEEP FAITH WITH AFRICA’S PEER REVIEW PROCESS}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2010}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Policy-Briefing-17.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }