Midrand, Johannesburg, 6^th August 2018 – The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the Institute for Futures Research (IFR) at the University of Stellenbosch, held a meeting to discuss the possibilities for collaboration between the institutions. The meeting was attended by representatives of the IFR: Dr Morne Mostert who is a seasoned Futurist of longstanding and is the Director of the IFR, as well as Mr Isaac Nkama who is a professional Futurist (Director of Facilitation Africa and board member of the African Futures Council). The meeting also included representatives from the APRM Continental Secretariat, Mr McBride Nkhalamba, Prof. Migai Akech, Mr Osten Chulu, Ms Nonkululeko Masoek and Ms Karabo Chadzingwa.

The two organizations agreed to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) outlining the modalities of the new partnership and areas of collaboration, which will also comprise:

1. Integrating futures perspective into APRM National Plans of Action (NPOAs) which feed into Member States’ National Development Plans (NDPs);
2. Integrating futures approach into the APRM review process;
3. Integrating Futures framework into the APRM as an early-warning tool for conflict prevention.

The CEO of the APRM, Prof. Eddy Maloka, advised that the APRM and IFR collaborate on developing an audit of national planning frameworks in countries, including the implementation and alignment with regional and international development plans. The audit will be developed in relation to the APRM network of countries on National Development Planning, which is a network devoted to working on harmonizing of Agenda 2063, SDGs, and National Development Planning within countries. The network entails the APRM, in terms of its mandate, monitoring National Programmes of Action and how they are incorporated into National Development Planning. In his closing remarks, the CEO of the APRM stated that the APRM-IFR Futures Report should be continentally focused.