Agenda 2063 will make sense only if the APRM makes sense, these are the words of UNDP regional Cluster Director of Governance and Peacebuilding in Africa, Dr. Ozonnia Ojielo. Dr. Ojielo was addressing the retreat of the APRM strategic partners, the UNECA, AfDB and UNDP which was held on 24 January 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Delivering welcome address at the event themed “Strengthening the Partnership for Transforming Africa’s Governance” Deputy Executive Secretary of UNECA, Dr. Abdalla Hamdok said the values and norms the APRM embodies are even more relevant today for the continent than they were at the inception of the Mechanism back in 2003. He said the pride of the place accorded to issues of governance in both the evolving post 2015 Global Development Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063 bear testimony to this fact.

Dr. Hamdok further urged for the institutionalization of the collaboration between the APRM and its strategic partners in a manner that would enhance the leveraging of their respective comparative advantages in the advancement of the noble ideals of good governance and accountability on the Continent.

Representing the African Development Bank (AfDB) at the retreat Officer-in-charge of the Governance Department, Mr. Jacob D. Mukete said AfDB sees so much potential in the APRM as a home-grown, self-monitoring instrument, capable of having a lasting impact on Africa’s governance landscape. He said the objectives of the APRM mirror those of the Bank as such the African Development Bank is committed to continue to work diligently with all stakeholders towards the realization of the objectives of the APRM.

NEPAD CEO and Interim CEO of the APRM Secretariat, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, expressed his unreserved appreciation to the strategic partners for their steadfast commitment and support to the APRM.

Dr. Mayaki further outlined some of the APRM priority projects for 2015.

“Year 2015 will be a watershed for the Mechanism. We expect the finalization of a new Strategic Plan for the APRM, the commencement of the second generation reviews, scaled-up implementation of the National Programmes of Action in APRM Member States and the emplacement of a new full-time leadership at the APRM Secretariat”.

He thus impressed upon the strategic partners to redouble their efforts in supporting and strengthening the APRM in this critical period of transformation.

In her opening remarks, Chairperson of the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons, Ambassador Fatuma reiterated Dr. Mayaki’s views that the magnitude of the strategic partner’s support to the APRM cannot be overstated. She urged the strategic partners to hold hands with the APRM in order to make the APRM relevant and meaningful to the lives of Africans.

During plenary sessions delegates reflected on various strategies regarding strengthening the APRM, institutional development of the Secretariat to consolidation of partnerships and resource mobilization for APRM delivery.

The APRM strategic retreat concluded with the following recommendations; making APRM the monitoring and accountability tool for AU Agenda 2063 and Post 2015 Development Agenda; Conduct an APRM Impact Assessment in reviewed countries in 2015; conclusion and signing the MOU with Partners and holding of APRM Strategic Partners Retreat twice a year on the side-lines of the AU Summits.