Aligning NPOA with Other Frameworks for National Development: A Formula to Revitalise Forward-looking, Broad-based and Participatory Development in Africa?

The policy briefing addresses the declining momentum of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and its National Programmes of Action (NPOA). It identifies causes for this decline, such as lack of interest from heads of state and insufficient financial support, and proposes reviving the process by integrating NPOA into National Developmental Plans (NDPs) and collaborating with African Union organs and regional economic communities.

• The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has experienced a loss of momentum due to several factors, including heads of state viewing review recommendations as personal criticism, the inability of state institutions to implement recommendations or monitor progress, and a general lack of financial support.
• National Programmes of Action (NPOA) are designed to identify governance shortcomings and provide realisable commitments for improvement, serving as strategic programmes of action that should synergise with National Developmental Plans (NDPs) and other initiatives like the Millennium Development Goals.
• NPOA offer several strategic advantages, including providing measurable indicators for transformation, showcasing replicable best practices, facilitating participatory development, acting as a tool for transparency and accountability, and serving as an advocacy tool in international governance.
• To revive the NPOA, the document recommends aligning them with national development processes and creating linkages with African Union organs, such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and regional economic communities (RECs).
• The document suggests specific roles for stakeholders to rejuvenate the process: the APRM Secretariat should seek synergies with AU organs; Technical Institutes (such as the UNDP and African Development Bank) should support civil society organisations (CSOs) in their oversight roles; and CSOs should appoint focal groups to monitor NPOA integration.
• As of January 2013, 33 countries had acceded to the APRM, with 15 countries having completed the review process.

APA

Machieng, R. (2013). Aligning NPOA with Other Frameworks for National Development: A Formula to Revitalise Forward-looking, Broad-based and Participatory Development in Africa? South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Policy-Briefing-65.pdf

Chicago

Machieng, Roseline. Aligning NPOA with Other Frameworks for National Development: A Formula to Revitalise Forward-looking, Broad-based and Participatory Development in Africa? South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Policy-Briefing-65.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Machieng |first1=Roseline |title=Aligning NPOA with Other Frameworks for National Development: A Formula to Revitalise Forward-looking, Broad-based and Participatory Development in Africa? |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Policy-Briefing-65.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{machieng2013aligning, author = {Machieng, Roseline}, title = {{Aligning NPOA with Other Frameworks for National Development: A Formula to Revitalise Forward-looking, Broad-based and Participatory Development in Africa?}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Policy-Briefing-65.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }