APRM critical for Africa's Development Agenda

The APRM was established when Africans turned to themselves to mobilize their own resources in order to realise African change and development. The APRM is therefore a critical mechanism for Africa's Governance landscape,” these are the words of former President of Mozambique H.E Joaquim Chissano during his response to the presentation of the APRM's Turnaround Strategy at the 4th General Assembly of the Forum of Former African Heads of State and Government - Africa Forum.

The APRM was invited by the Africa Forum to share its strategy of restoration, reinvigoration and renewal with the Forum of the Former Heads of State whom among others are APRM's Founding Fathers.

'The APRM is seeking guidance and wisdom from the Founding Fathers. Platforms like these are critical for the advancement of the agenda of the APRM,” said APRM CEO, Prof. Eddy Maloka.

“Everybody should know that the APRM is out of its comatose state, we are ready to claim our rightful position as the Premier Governance Hub in Africa. The turn out today is also demonstrative of the support and commitment our African brothers and sisters have on the APRM. Failure is therefore not an option,” he said.

The Former Heads of States reiterated the relevance of the APRM to the African Development Agenda and its importance in the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Agenda 2063 and SDGs implementation.

“The APRM is a critical tool, a mechanism which should explore the possibility of playing the role of the Continental's Rating Agency. We cannot have external people coming to rate us when we have such capable and competent Mechanisms like the APRM,” added the former President of the African Development Bank H.E Dr. Babacar Ndiaye who is also a Member of the Africa Forum.

The Africa Forum is expected to debate its future partnership with the APRM and the outcomes will be adopted into a declaration.

Following his presentation at the Africa Forum the APRM Chief Executive Officer in the company of his esteemed colleagues, UNECA Deputy Executive Secretary, H.E Dr Abdalla Hamdok, AU Commissioner for Economic Affairs H.E Anthony Mothae Maruping, Representative of the South African Focal Point and Representative of the Kenyan Focal Point presided over the Side Event on the Restoration, Reinvigorating and Renewal of the APRM.

Addressing the event Dr. Hamdok said the APRM needs to reassess the issue of voluntary accession.

“We need to be more relevant to the Africa's development agenda and revisit the APRM indicators so that they are not as cumbersome,” he cautioned. He concluded by reiterating ECA's commitment to the APRM.

AU Commissioner for Economic Affairs H.E Anthony Mothae Maruping urged delegates “to be more active in their support of the APRM both at continental and national levels”. He said the APRM is a mechanism that will propel Africa to a “great development path”. He allude the joint collaborative efforts of the ECA and APRM in quest of popularizing the Mechanism.

Both South African and Kenyan Focal Points commended the efforts of the New CEO in reviving the CEO. They expressed their Countries unwavering support and commitment to good governance and to the Mechanism. They said Kenya and South Africa are very committed to the strengthening and working together with the APRM in its renewal process.

The Event which was well attended by delegates from Embassies in Ethiopia, Focal Point Representatives, Civil Society Organizations, Partner Institution Representatives and other AU Organs was a collaborative effort between the APRM, AU and ECA.