Strengthening Peer Learning in the African Peer Review Mechanism: The Case for Best Practices

The document examines the underutilisation of best practices within the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), noting that while over 200 practices have been identified across 15 country review reports, they remain largely confined to those reports. It argues that best practices should serve as a central anchor for peer learning to drive governance reform. The author recommends that the APRM define best practices more clearly, integrate their identification into the initial country self-assessment phase to increase national ownership, and establish a central repository and dedicated learning forums to disseminate these home-grown solutions across the continent.

• Best practices are a fundamental but underused component of the APRM, intended to promote policies for good governance, economic growth, and continental integration, yet they currently lack a clear definitional framework and systematic application.
• As of July 2013, 15 country review reports (CRRs) had been published, identifying more than 200 best or good practices, but these findings have had limited impact beyond the countries where they originated.
• The APRM has successfully created a non-threatening environment for African leaders and citizens to engage in frank dialogue and document indigenous solutions to common problems.
• There are three primary weaknesses hindering the effectiveness of APRM best practices: a lack of conceptual definition, flawed identification processes, and poor integration into the broader APRM project.
• Current identification of best practices occurs too late in the process and is primarily driven by external review teams; moving this to the internal self-assessment phase would improve depth and national ownership.
• Effective peer learning is currently limited by a lack of systematic communication strategies, with most cross-country dialogue restricted to formal summits and government focal points.

APA

Petlane, T. (2013). Strengthening Peer Learning in the African Peer Review Mechanism: The Case for Best Practices. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Policy-Briefing-76.pdf

Chicago

Petlane, Tšoeu. Strengthening Peer Learning in the African Peer Review Mechanism: The Case for Best Practices. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Policy-Briefing-76.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Petlane |first1=Tšoeu |title=Strengthening Peer Learning in the African Peer Review Mechanism: The Case for Best Practices |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=November 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Policy-Briefing-76.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{petlane2013strengthening, author = {Petlane, Tšoeu}, title = {{Strengthening Peer Learning in the African Peer Review Mechanism: The Case for Best Practices}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Policy-Briefing-76.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }