THINK TANK ON AFRICA GOVERNANCE REPORT & NATIONAL GOVERANCE REPORTING Capital Menlyn Maine, Pretoria, South Africa (28 February -01 March 2019)

• Price Per Day $0,00

• Equipment $0,00

The African Peer Review Mechanism’s Continental Secretariat held a two-day meeting in Pretoria, South Africa ahead of the official launch of the Africa Governance Report 2019.  The Africa Governance Report 2019  focuses on five key thematic areas of priority, namely: (a) transformative leadership, (b) constitutionalism and the rule of law, (c) peace, security and governance (Silencing the Guns), (d) the nexus of development and governance, and e) the role of the regional economic communities (RECS) in African governance. The report is evidence-based, designed to be policy -relevant for the AU, RECs, Member States, and other stakeholders. APRM envisions to produce the AGR bi-annually with the support of the continued Africa Governance Architecture Platform Members.

The two-day Meetings brought together representatives of the AU, Member States, RECs, African Think Tanks, Academic Institutions and APRM Stakeholders for the purpose of (a) Galvanising support for the AGR and cascading the report to African people, (b) Brainstorming, sharing of experiences rationalising national governance reporting frameworks, (c) Roadmap for the AGR 2021.

The meeting also reflected on the 32^ndOrdinary Session of the African Union Assembly which “Welcomed the Africa Governance Report developed by the APRM and urged the Member States to consider the recommendations contained in the Report with a view to enhancing good governance and sharing best practices at both country and continental levels.

It further “Urged the Member States to develop national governance reports as a self-assessment tool for promoting good governance in line with the recommendations of the Report”.

Speaking at the Meetings, Prof Eddy Maloka, APRM Continental Secretariat CEO encouraged Member States of the Africa Union, Think Tanks, Academic Institutions to upscale their efforts in implementing the decisions of AU Assembly.

The Africa Union Permanent Representative Council Chair & Ambassador of Egypt in Ethiopia, Hon Ambassador Osama Abdelkhalek reminded participants that the Arab Spring was largely ignited by poor governance. In his remarks, he further noted that the Africa Governance Report and other governance initiatives could serve to strengthen the African Union Early Warning System and help prevent conflicts.

The Africa Union Permanent Representative Council Chair and Ambassador to Egypt, Ambassador Ndumiso Ntshinga noted that the biggest challenge to the maintenance of peace is the inability to collect information. “Rarely are African Early Warning systems used” he explained.  The Ambassador further noted that governance remained the biggest challenge in maintaining stability.