SaferAfrica's work with the APRM

SaferAfrica co-ordinated and facilitated all three High-Level Working Sessions of the Panel of Eminent Persons. The Inaugural High-level Working Session was held on the 27-29 July 2003 in Cape Town, South Africa. The Second High-Level Working Session was held on the 3-4 October 2003 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Third High-Level Working Session was held on the 14–15 November 2003 in Abuja, Nigeria. All the High-Level Working Sessions considered the documentation, proposing key additions and amendments, and suggested mechanisms to establish the APR Secretariat.

Upon the request of the NEPAD Secretariat, SaferAfrica has seconded a staff member from June 2003 to February 2004 on a fixed-period basis to assist the NEPAD Secretariat.

The APR Panel of Eminent Persons was established comprising of Ms. Marie-Angelique Savané, Ms. Graca Machel, Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, Amb. Bethuel Kiplagat, Mr. Mourad Medelci, Dr. Dorothy Njeuma, and Dr. Chris Stals. In the Third High-Level Working Session, Ms Savané was appointed as the Chairperson of the Panel, by President Obasanjo, the Chairperson of the NEPAD HSGIC.

SaferAfrica assisting in the drafting of the APRM Base Document, Organisation and Processes document, Objectives, Standards, Criteria, and Indicators document, and Technical Assessments and Country Review Visits, a Memorandum of Understanding for APR Countries document. The Panel of Eminent Persons has adopted the Revised Guidelines for Country preparation for and participation in the APRM; questionnaire for country review in the four areas of the APRM; modalities of assistance to countries to prepare for and participate in the APRM; draft Memorandum of Understanding that spells out the duties and responsibilities of member countries and the APRM structures; draft Memorandum of Understanding that determines the working relationship between the APRM structures and Partner Institutions; and Code of the APR Country Teams.

SaferAfrica provided rapporteuring services for the High-Level Stakeholder Workshops held in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 28-30 July 2003 hosted by the UNDP’s African Governance Forum and the NEPAD Secretariat, which was attended by African Parliamentarians, civil society organisations, and the private sector from the APR countries. SaferAfrica participated a Technical Meeting in 05-07 November 2003 was hosted by the NEPAD and APR Secretariats, on developing the criteria and indicators of the APR and was attended by expert organisations from the African continent. Both of these Workshops have recommended certain key amendments to the Panel of Eminent Persons.

SaferAfrica assisted the NEPAD Secretariat in interviewing and finalising the appointment of the Lead Consultant, who is tasked with establishing the APR Secretariat within six months. Dr. Kersalla Yansane was appointed as the Lead Consultant.