Attended by Eddah Jowah
From the 3 – 4th of June 2025, we participated in a regional meeting organised by the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA). Since 2018, SAIIA has been working closely with civil society organisations (CSOs) in southern Africa to raise awareness about the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and bring key governance issues to the attention of governments in states that have signed up to the APRM.
The conference brought together key partners from each of the APRM Popular Sensitisation Projects supported by SAIIA through the years (Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Lesotho and Zimbabwe) to create a platform for engagement and experience sharing between CSOs. It also connected CSOs in the room with representatives of the APRM Secretariat, including H.E. Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, the Chief Executive Officer of the APRM.
The meeting provided a platform for CSOs to engage with each other, share experiences, and discuss best practices in promoting good governance and accountability in their respective countries. The presence of representatives from the APRM Secretariat provided an opportunity for CSOs to interact with the organisation and discuss ways to enhance collaboration. The meeting deliberated on the importance of involving civil society in the APRM process and explored ways to ensure that CSOs are effectively engaged in promoting good governance and accountability.
Other key issues that came out were the importance of:
- Strengthening CSO capacities to effectively engage in the APRM process and promote inclusive governance processes in their countries.
- Enhancing collaboration between CSOs, governments, and the APRM Secretariat is essential to ensure that the APRM process is effective in promoting good governance and accountability.
- Promoting awareness about the APRM and its importance in promoting good governance and accountability is crucial to ensure that citizens and CSOs are engaged in the process.