N’djamena, Chad – The APRM recently hosted a watershed Regional Workshop in N’djamena, Chad on the 15 and 16 May 2014. The two-day gathering, the first in a series of six regional workshops was organised by the APRM Continental Secretariat, APRM Chad and the Economic Community of Central Africa (ECCAS).

The workshop brought together about 350 stakeholders, from Chad (Government officials, Civil Society Organizations, Academia, and private), Focal Point, UNDP representative, and other Chadian Dignitaries. APRM Representatives from Members States in the ECCAS region also attended the workshop. In attendance was also Representatives from other APRM Members States such as Mozambique, Togo, Benin, Mali, Algeria, Ghana and Mauritius who came to share their valuable experiences; lessons learned and best practises from implementing the APRM Process in their respective countries.

This major event was inaugurated by H.E. Kalzeube Payimi Deube, Prime Minister of Chad. During his key delivery note, H.E Payimi Deube said the Country is committed to good governance and its values of transparency, accountability and democracy. He further elaborated that as a government their daily activities are inspired by the principles enshrined in the APRM framework.

Speaking at the two-day workshop delegates expressed appreciation to the organisers for hosting the sessions that speak to their needs and expectations as countries that are undergoing the initial stages of implementing the APRM Process. They said through this gathering they have learnt of the effectiveness and importance of the Mechanism to the development of Africa; from the highly competent and professional presenters and APRM representatives (Panel Members and Secretariat Staff) who were highly knowledgeable and experienced on APRM matters.

The aims of the Regional Workshops were to:
Reinvigorate Member Countries that have already acceded to the APRM but are inactive or have stagnated, to resolutely get involved in the APRM process,
Motivate the (21) African Countries that are not yet Members of the APRM to accelerate their decision to accede to the Mechanism.

The Mission to Chad was led by Mr. Joseph Tsang Mang Kin, lead Panel Member for Chad. Other Panel members who attended were Dr. Mustapha Mekideche and Prof. Youssouf Khayal.

The next Regional Workshop will be held in the ECOWAS region, Togo.