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UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday hailed the success of a peer review mechanism agreed among African leaders a decade ago, saying that it has not only fostered more principled leadership and constructive national dialogue, but opened up more space for citizens to participate in the decisions affecting them.
"The APRM (African Peer Review Mechanism) has deepened a democratic political culture among African governments," the UN secretary-general said while opening a high-level panel on Africa' s innovation in governance over the 10 years of the review's implementation.
The discussion kicked off a host of activities at UN Headquarters in New York featuring "Africa Week," which spotlights progress in implementing the African-led growth and development initiative, known as the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the APRM and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union (AU).
The APRM began a decade ago as a "bold initiative" that showed the world African leaders were ready to take action on difficult and sensitive problems of governance and democracy, said Ban. "Ten years on, this approach has proven its value."
Ban also paid tribute to the 17 countries that have completed self-assessments under the APRM -- a mutually-agreed instrument encouraging action among African countries in political, economic and corporate governance standards, and agreed objectives in socio- economic development.
He also noted that the process has identified a number of areas where African countries need to improve.
"It showed the need to better manage natural resources, stop corruption, end xenophobia, address youth unemployment and take action against organized crime and terrorism," Ban said.
Time has come to deepen and broaden the valuable peer review process so that more countries can benefit, Ban said. "The goal, of course, is for all countries in Africa to face this scrutiny, by themselves and by others. This is what African people expect of their leaders."
"What the APRM does for governance, NEPAD does for development. Together, they help Africaadvance along the path of democracy and development to benefit the continent's people," the secretary- general said, underscoring the world body's commitment to the aims of the vital initiatives.
On the broader situation on the continent, he said, "Africa's prospects are strong," citing that several countries are among the world's fastest growing economies; fewer Africans suffer from extreme poverty; and more African women are finding work in parliaments and statehouses.
In an interview with UN Radio, Ambassador Tete Antonio, the AU representative to the United Nations, said that NEPAD and its Peer Review Mechanism furthered the overall effort to promote pan- Africanism and to strengthen partnerships that addressed the priorities identified by Africans themselves.
While emphasizing that "Africa is changing," Antonio said that he hoped gains made in all areas where NEPAD has been implemented, as well as other ongoing governance and structural changes, will help change the attitudes of the continent's development partners as well.
