Transcript AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM: EXPERIENCES & …

AFRICAN PEER REVIEW
MECHANISM(APRM): EXPERIENCES &
PROCESSES IN THE FREE STATE
PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA
Dr. DOVHANA MAMPHISWANA
CHIEF DIRECTOR: PLANNING,
MONITORING AND RESEARC
DEPARTMENT OF THE PREMIER
SMS CONFERENCE 29-31 AUGUST 2006
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BACKGROUND TO THE
APRM
• On 8 July 2002, the 38th Ordinary Session
of the Organization of African Unity
endorsed the MOU on the APRM.
• Guidelines governing the peer review
process are contained in the Base
Document of the APRM
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MANDATE OF THE APRM
“To ensure that the policies and practices of
the participating states conform to the
agreed political, economic and corporate
governance values, codes and standards
contained in the declaration of
democracy, political, economic and
corporate governance”
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PURPOSE OF THE APRM
“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 sharing experiences
and reinforcement of successful and best
practices.”
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The Objectives Section of the Constitutive
Act prescribes that the African Union and its
member states are legally obliged to:
• Promote peace, security and stability on the continent
• Promote democratic principles and institutions,
popular participation and good governance
• Promote and protect human and peoples’ rights
• Promote sustainable development at the economic,
social and cultural levels
• Promote cooperation in all fields of human activity to
raise the living standards of African people
A
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• Advance the development of the continent by
promoting research in all fields
• Work with international partners in the eradication of
preventable diseases and the promotion of good health
on the continent
B
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PARTICIPATION IN THE
APRM
The APRM is open to 53 member
states of the African Union.
Presently more than 23 countries are
already participating including
Ghanda, Rwanda, Kenya, Mauritius
and South Africa.
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KEY FOCUS AREAS OF THE
APRM
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4.
The review process focuses on measuring
performance and progress in four areas:
Democracy and good political governance
Economic governance and management
Corporate governance
Socio-economic development
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APRM PROCESS IN SOUTH
AFRICA
• The first Consultative Conference was held at
Gallagher Estate, Midrand on 28 & 29 September
2005.
• The State President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki inaugurated
the APRM Governing Council under the leadership
of Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Minister of
Public Service and Administration.
• The APRM Governing Council consists of people
from business, government, organised labour, civil
society organisations, and youth, women and people
with disabilities.
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COMMITMENT BY
PRESIDENT MBEKI TO THE
APRM PROCESS
“The Peer Review Process enables each of our
countries to assess the progress it is making
towards the achievement of our shared goals.”
“Consistent with our movement’s commitment to
a people-driven process of progressive change,
we fully support the approach of the APRM to
involve the masses of the people in the peer
review process”
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BENEFITS OF THE APRM
PROCESS
• Help build institutions involved in the promotion of
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democracy
Help improve the relationships between institutions
involved in promoting democracy
Help create a culture of participatory governance
Create a favourable climate for trade & investment
to flourish.
Help SA’s efforts in terms of job creation and
improved service delivery in areas such as health,
education, housing & other basic services.
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APRM PROCESS IN THE
FREE STATE PROVINCE
• The Free State, with a population of 2,6million people, is one
of 9 provinces in South Africa situated in the centre of the
country and bordering the Kingdom of Lesotho.
• On 29 November 2005, Premier F.B Marshoff inaugurated
the Provincial Governing Council tasked with the
responsibility of implementing the provincial APRM
programme.
• The Provincial Governing Council is led by MEC
Mokitlane with Mec Tsopo (MEC responsible
for Education) as his deputy.
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COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT IN THE
APRM PROCESS
• Public hearings and door-to-door engagements were
held throughout the 5municipal districts of the Free
State province.
• In total 10 362 questionnaires were completed by
the community and translated, encoded &
computerized for comprehensive analysis by the
University of the Free State.
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RESULTS OF THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS
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9.
The province successfully achieved the following good
governance practices:
Rights promoted and protected
Women supported to fully participate in society
Rights of the disabled are protected & promoted
Economic management
Government finances managed
Working with neighbouring states
Vision of the country is shared
Doing right things to end poverty
Systems in place to ensure that people are involved in the
development process
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RESULTS OF THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT PROCESS(cont)
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2.
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4.
The province failed through the
following bad governance procedures:
Fighting or violence
Promotion and protection of children’s
rights
Corruption in government
Delivery of basic services
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Overview of the People of the
Free State
• Democracy & Good Political Governance:
Mixed Feelings
• Economic Governance and Management:
Good
• Corporate Governance: Bad
• Socio-Economic Development: Good
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CHALLENGES OF THE APRM
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
• Lack of co-operation from ward committees and
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ward councilors
Time-frame for community engagement was too
short
Process perceived as a political ploy to canvas votes
APRM questionnaire difficult to understand
Difficulty in reaching public hearings due to lack of
transport
Quality of responses compromised due to
lack of time.
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NATIONAL PROGRAMME OF ACTION ON
APRM
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The country self-assessment was handed to the State
President and a Group of Eminent Persons in July
• A Group of Eminent Persons conducted engagement
meetings with the stakeholder across the country
• In the Free State they met with the Premier and EXCO,
Legislature and Community Groups
• The National Programme of Action was driven from the
country self-assessment report
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NATIONAL PROGRAMME OF ACTION/
CONTINUATION
• Provinces will customize their programme of
action based on this programme of action.
• In the Free State we are still identifying gaps
between the National Programme of Action
and Provincial APRM Report.
• Identified gaps will be presented in the next
PCC
• The progamme of action is line with the four
thematic areas.
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1.
DECMOCRACY AND GOOD
POLITICAL GOVERNANCE
MAJOR ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED ARE:
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Human rights awareness
Access to justice
Active Public Participation
Rights-based awareness campaigns
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DECMOCRACY AND GOOD
POLITICAL GOVERNANCE/
CONTINUATION
MAJOR ISSUES TO BE ADDRESS ARE:
• Empowerment of vulnerable groups
such as woman, children, the disabled,
refuges
• Outreach and accessibility initiatives.
• Effectiveness of traditional courts
• Criminal review and reform
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DECMOCRACY AND GOOD
POLITICAL
GOVERNANCE/CONTINUATION
MAJOR ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED ARE:
• Creation and strengthening of social
dialogue forums
• Community consultation forums such as
Community Policing Forum
• Role of the Media led by the media itself
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2. ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE AND
MANAGEMENT
MAJOR ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED ARE:
• Popular participation in policy formulation
• Skills and capacity development
• Blockages to service delivery and
unemployment
• Project and financial management skills will
be prioritised
• Legislatures and local councils will be trained
in the application of legislative
• Corruption
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3. SOCIO-ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
MAJOR ISSUES
TO BE ADDRESS ARE :
• Poverty
• HIV and AIDS
• Access by all to basic rights and services
especially children, women and people with
disabilities
• Collaborative partnerships that fast-track
quality service delivery
• Creating services delivery innovation hubs
targeting vulnerable people and
marginalized groups
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4. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
MAJOR ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED ARE:
• Company legislation reform
• The effectiveness of key institutions
• Consumer rights and shareholder, and
shareholder activism
• Scaling up of existing consumer education
initiatives
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
/CONTINUATION
MAJOR ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED ARE:
• Active participation in corporate
governance by women and other
marginalized groups
• Provision of education and information to
current and potential shareholders
• Increasing the number of women in
executive and other decision making
positions
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CONCLUSION
• This programme of action will be
successful with the active participation
of provincial departments, district and
local municipalities.
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THANK YOU
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