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This report, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), examines the concept and application of "best practices" within the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It analyzes 12 Country Review Reports (CRRs) to identify indigenous governance solutions and argues that a lack of conceptual clarity regarding what constitutes a "best practice" hinders the APRM's ability to facilitate peer learning and sustainable reform across the continent.

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.

This research paper summarizes a February 2010 roundtable discussion hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) regarding the progress and future prospects of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The discussion, featuring representatives from the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the APRM Secretariat, and civil society, evaluates the mechanism's achievements in promoting governance and accountability across Africa while identifying systemic failures in implementation, funding, and leadership.

This research paper evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), highlighting its achievements in promoting governance and self-reflection among African states while warning of current crises regarding transparency, leadership integrity, and the marginalization of civil society.

This policy briefing argues that Africa should establish an informal 'club of states'—similar to the G8 or G20—composed of its most capable powers to overcome the ineffectiveness of formal multilateral institutions like the African Union. The author proposes an 'A5 Club' consisting of South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Ethiopia, and Kenya to coordinate continental initiatives and provide a unified voice in global affairs.

This briefing provides a legal analysis of the April 10, 2008, constitutional revision in Cameroon, arguing that it reinforces presidential hegemony and undermines the principle of constitutional supremacy. The authors place this event within a broader African trend of 'authoritarian recuperation,' where leaders modify constitutions to remove term limits and perpetuate their hold on power.

This research paper examines the perceptions, support, and reservations of African countries regarding the proposed Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), a global initiative to establish universal standards for the legal trade of conventional weapons. It specifically analyzes the viewpoints of five African nations that participated in a United Nations Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) and discusses the potential benefits and challenges of implementing such a treaty across the continent.

This research paper analyzes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's June 2009 visit to Africa and parallel summits in Yekaterinburg as part of a broader Russian strategy to challenge a unipolar world dominated by the United States and reassert influence in the developing world.

This research paper evaluates the quality of recommendations provided in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) reports for six pioneer countries, arguing that while the reports identify governance problems effectively, they often fail to provide actionable, concrete policy guidance.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an overview of the UNFCCC climate change negotiations held in Bonn from March 29 to April 8, 2009. It details the progress and points of contention across the four pillars of the Bali Action Plan—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing—as countries worked toward a comprehensive post-2012 climate agreement intended for adoption at COP 15 in Copenhagen in December 2009.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the outcomes of the UNFCCC climate change negotiations held in Bonn from March 29 to April 8, 2009. It outlines the progress made across the four pillars of the Bali Action Plan—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and finance—as parties worked toward a global post-2012 climate agreement intended for conclusion at COP-15 in Copenhagen in December 2009.

This foreword introduces a country review of crime and criminal justice in Sierra Leone, produced as part of the second phase of the African Human Security Initiative (AHSI). The initiative aims to complement the NEPAD/APRM process by providing empirical evidence on criminal justice systems to encourage reforms that enhance human security and democracy.

This report summarizes a seminar held on 8 April 2009 in Addis Ababa regarding the operationalization of the African Standby Force (ASF). The ASF is a key component of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), designed to enable the African Union (AU) to respond to conflicts and prevent atrocities such as genocide and war crimes. While the AU aimed for the ASF to be operational by 2010, the seminar highlighted significant gaps in civilian and police components, logistics, funding, and legal clarity regarding the AU's right of intervention versus UN Security Council authority.

This research paper by Steven Gruzd of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), examining its institutional origins, its relationship with the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), and its achievements in promoting good governance across Africa.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the economic and political outlook for Africa in 2009, highlighting the risks posed by the global banking crisis, commodity price volatility, and precarious democratic transitions.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the patterns, types, and social dynamics of Chinese migration to Africa. It distinguishes between temporary labor migrants, independent entrepreneurs, and transit migrants, while analyzing the socio-economic tensions and settlement patterns emerging across the continent, with a detailed case study on South Africa.

This document is a report on an ISS round-table seminar held on 8 December 2008 in Pretoria, which brought together representatives from Morocco and the Polisario Front to discuss the roots and potential solutions for the conflict in Western Sahara.

The Handbook for African Civil Society is a guide designed to help civil society organizations (CSOs) actively participate in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It outlines the APRM's five stages of review, its continental and national institutional structures, and the four thematic areas of governance it assesses. The manual provides strategic advice for CSOs to move from passive participants to leaders in the process, highlighting potential obstacles such as government fear and resource scarcity, while offering methods to influence power levels within the mechanism to promote good governance and socio-economic development in Africa.

This practical handbook, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), provides guidance for Technical Research Institutes (TRIs) tasked with conducting research for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It outlines the chronological process of creating Country Self-Assessment Reports (CSARs), offering strategies to manage the technical, managerial, and political challenges inherent in evaluating national governance.

This guide, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in June 2008, provides practical instructions for Technical Research Institutions (TRIs) conducting research for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It details the planning, methodology, and political navigation required to produce National Self-Assessment Reports (NSARs) and Action Plans (APs), drawing on experiences from pioneer countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa.