South Africa APRM Popular Sensitisation Project

The APRM, established in 2003, is Africa’s premier governance self-assessment and promotion tool. The purpose of the APRM is “to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration through reinforcement of best practices, including identifying deficiencies and accessing the needs for capacity building,” according to its founding documents.

This project is being implemented by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in Johannesburg in partnership with Jasoro Consulting In Johannesburg.

South Africa joined the APRM in 2003 and underwent its first country review in 2007. This was subsequently followed by three progress reports.

The APRM’s rules require that civil society be meaningfully involved in each country’s review process. Together with government and the private sector, the country’s civil society will diagnose governance strengths and weaknesses and develop appropriate and applicable remedies.

However, South African youth have previously not been adequately involved in the APRM processes. In South Africa, young people between the ages of 18-34 years account for one-third of the population (17.48 million) which is very significant. This project therefore seeks to amplify the voices of South African youth who are grossly affected by prevailing governance deficits such as (but not limited to) corruption and state capture, youth unemployment, poverty and inequality, inadequate public participation, gender-based violence and climate change.

Potential benefits of the APRM in South Africa

The APRM can catalyse and bolster reform efforts, and open civic space for CSOs and citizens through the dialogue it promotes. It is also an opportunity for South Africa to showcase its best practices to its peers. A well-run, inclusive and transparent process can promote accountability in the country, and potentially attract investors and development assistance. This African-owned process will produce a comprehensive governance assessment of South Africa’s strengths and weaknesses and develop recommendations to remedy shortcomings, particularly as the country grapples with a global pandemic that will be felt for years.

The APRM also provides a platform to promote a wide range of governance issues that CSOs feel passionately about, through evidence-based submissions. It is a requirement that civil society be involved in a country’s APRM process. But the extent of their involvement is up to the CSOs, depending on how informed, interested and mobilised they are.

South Africa’s accession and upcoming second-generation review provides civil society organisations and activists with an important opportunity for robust engagement on progress and challenges since the first country review in 2007. This project will call attention to the prevailing issues, particularly from a youth lens, which is unprecedented.