State–Civil Society Relations: The Potential Contribution of the African Peer Review Mechanism

The document examines how the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) facilitates the inclusion of civil society organisations (CSOs) in national governance assessments. While the APRM has helped transform CSOs from adversaries into partners in some countries, the process faces challenges such as 'pro-forma participation', capacity constraints, and a decline in momentum after the publication of Country Review Reports (CRRs). The author recommends that governments involve CSOs directly in monitoring and evaluation and that CSOs develop strategies for sustained policy dialogue and cross-national peer learning.

• The APRM has the potential to shift the relationship between non-state actors and governments from one of adversity to partnership, with evidence suggesting that CSOs and states are increasingly viewing each other as partners in national dialogue.
• Despite the mandate for inclusion, some CSO participation in the APRM is superficial, described by a Lesotho official as 'pro-forma participation' that lacks genuine representation or quality input.
• Several structural challenges hinder the effectiveness of CSO involvement, including government control over funding and resources, the selection of politically-aligned representatives, and the inability of CSO leaders to commit time over the long term.
• There is a significant drop in interest and momentum regarding the APRM once the Country Review Report (CRR) is published, often leading to the marginalisation or disbanding of National Governing Councils (NGCs).
• The APRM has provided specific opportunities for citizen engagement through direct representation in NGCs in countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria, and through high-quality submissions such as those from the Zambia Civil Society APRM Secretariat.
• In Lesotho and Mozambique, CSOs and religious institutions played critical roles in peace-building and democratic transitions in the 1990s, and have more recently been involved in national reconciliation efforts.

APA

Petlane, T. (2013). State–Civil Society Relations: The Potential Contribution of the African Peer Review Mechanism. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Policy-Briefing-80.pdf

Chicago

Petlane, Tšoeu. State–Civil Society Relations: The Potential Contribution of the African Peer Review Mechanism. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Policy-Briefing-80.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Petlane |first1=Tšoeu |title=State–Civil Society Relations: The Potential Contribution of the African Peer Review Mechanism |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=December 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Policy-Briefing-80.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{petlane2013statecivil, author = {Petlane, Tšoeu}, title = {{State–Civil Society Relations: The Potential Contribution of the African Peer Review Mechanism}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = dec, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Policy-Briefing-80.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }