Presentation to the NEPAD Projects Conference

1
Presentation to the NEPAD Projects Conference

• Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi08 October 2007

2
Outline

• APRM Background
• South Africas APRM Process
• Programme of Action Overview
• Role of Business in POA Implementation

3
Mandate of the APRM

• The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an
  instrument voluntarily acceded to by Member
  States of the African Union as an African
  selfmonitoring mechanism.
• The mandate of the African Peer Review Mechanism
  is to ensure that the policies and practices of
  participating states conform to agreed political,
  economic and corporate governance values, codes
  and standards.
• The APRM is the mutually agreed instrument for
  self monitoring by the participating member
  governments.

4
Purpose and Principles of the APRM

• The purpose of the APRM is to foster the adoption
  of policies, standards and practices that promote
  political stability, high economic growth,
  sustainable development and accelerated
  sub-regional and continental economic
  integration.
• This is achieved through sharing of experiences
  and good practice, including identifying
  deficiencies and assessing capacity building
  needs.
• Every review exercise carried out under the
  authority of the Mechanism must be technically
  competent, credible and free of political
  manipulation.

5
APRM Process

• Periodic reviews of the policies and practices of
  participating states to evaluate progress in four
  thematic areas
• Democracy and Political Governance
• Economic Governance and Management
• Corporate Governance
• Socio-Economic Development
• The APRM process involves a self assessment
  review and a review by a panel of eminent
  persons.
• A Programme of Action to achieve the agreed
  standards and goals is developed .

6
South Africas Consultation Process

• South Africa developed a participatory approach
  to the implementation of the APRM.
• Two National Consultative Conferences were held
• The launch 28-29 September 2005
• The Validation 5-6 May 2006.
• Events, conferences, workshops attended by
  members of the NGC
• Meetings with stakeholder communities on a
  regular basis
• Provincial consultative conferences. All these
  conferences took place before the end of November
  2005.
• In many Provinces the conferences were preceded
  by workshops, working sessions and door-to-door
  consultations at the District and Municipal
  level.

7
Role of Parliament

• Parliament established four ad hoc committees to
  focus on the four-thematic areas of the APRM.
• Held public hearings and invited presentations to
  the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committees.
• Parliaments consolidated submission was based on
  the presentations, public hearings and additional
  research.
• Parliaments submission was integrated into the
  draft Technical Reports and the Country
  Self-Assessment Report (CSAR).

8
South Africas Innovative Approaches

• Provincial Governing Councils
• Translation of the Questionnaire
• Use of Community Development Workers (CDWs) to
  engage and solicit feedback from communities on
  the APRM process and questionnaire.
• GDC Lens A Second Innovative Approach
• Validation Conference
• Use of Technical Support Agencies
• Use of arms length Quality Assurers

9
Research methodology

• 88 page APRM questionnaire reduced and
  simplified to maximise participation.
• Translated into all official languages.
• Used as a template by CDWs to record community
  feedback
• Opinion papers from credible experts
  commissioned.
• Submissions from sectors, organisations,
  government departments, business, labour, NGOs as
  well as individuals.

10
National Governing Council (NGC) and Research

• NGC established at the APRM launch, chaired by
  the focal point appointed by the President
• In November 2005, the NGC established a Research
  Sub-committee of seven members, three from
  Government and four from civil society, to
  support the national secretariats research team.
  
• The NGC Research Sub-Committee met bi-weekly or
  as often as required.

11
Technical Support Agencies

• Four institutions were appointed as technical
  service providers one for each focus area of
  the APRM.
• They played a very important role with respect
  to
• The technical reports
• Convening the research seminars to discuss the
  draft thematic reports
• Consolidating the inputs from the various
  submissions and consultations including from the
  second National Consultative Conference.
• Working collaboratively with members of the
  Research Sub-committee of the NGC.
• Submitting a draft report for their respective
  thematic areas.
• Submitting a draft POA for their respective
  thematic areas.

12
Quality assurance institutions

• Two quality assurance agencies were appointed to
  advise on the emerging self assessment reports.
• Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
• Democracy and Good Political Governance
• Socio-Economic Development
• Auditor-General (AG)
• Economic Governance and Management
• Corporate Governance

13
Draft Country Self Assessment Report

• The draft technical reports, additional inputs
  from the seminars and the corporate governance
  conference served as the basis for developing the
  draft CSAR and POA.
• The development of the draft CSAR and POA was
  prioritised over the revision and finalisation of
  the technical reports.
• The draft CSAR was compiled by the Research
  Sub-Committee of the NGC, in collaboration with a
  multi-disciplinary team identified by the NGC.
• The multi-disciplinary team comprised of key
  members of the TSAs, the Research Sub-committee
  of the NGC, key civil society representatives and
  senior government officials from various
  departments.
• During the development of the report, the NGC met
  with the working team almost weekly to review
  progress.

14
Validation of the CSAR

• The draft CSAR was discussed at the Second
  National Consultative Conference that was held on
  the 4th 5th May 2006.
• Approximately 1700 people, representing national
  government, provinces, civil society and
  business, attended the conference. The main
  result achieved was an overall high-level
  commitment to the report. It was also
  acknowledged that the report needed to be
  refined.
• There was also a very strong acknowledgement of
  the efforts made by the Governing Council to
  ensure that the process was inclusive and
  participatory achievements in this regard were
  recognized and celebrated.

15
Revisions to the CSAR

• After the conference the Draft CSAR was revised
  based on the input received.
• A multi-disciplinary team of the NGC, which
  includes experts from the Research Sub-committee
  assisted with Drafting the CSAR
• Workshops were convened for community development
  workers (CDWs) and provincial secretariats to
  enable them to discuss the draft CSAR and POA in
  detail, and to make additions where necessary.
• The workshops took place in all 9 provinces
  between the 10 and 30th June 2006.
• The revised CSAR and preliminary POA were also
  presented to Cabinet.
• The NGC gave unanimous approval to the CSAR.

16
The POA

• A preliminary programme of action (POA) was
  submitted with the final CSAR to the continental
  APRM Secretariat.
• A multi-disciplinary team of the NGC, which
  includes experts from the Research Sub-committee,
  The Presidency, National Treasury and civil
  society, was established to refine and finalise
  the POA.
• The NGC gave unanimous approval in principle to
  the Draft POA on June 26 2006.
• Extensive interaction with the Panel led to a
  revised and expanded POA.

17
The APR Panels Report

• A draft report from the APR Panel was presented
  to the SA Focal Point.
• There was extensive engagement between the APR
  Secretariat and the Focal Point around the POA.
• South Africa presented a formal response to the
  Panels Report.
• The APR Panel revised their Report based on South
  Africas response.
• Both were tabled for discussion at Committee of
  Participating Heads of State Government in June
  2007.

18
Report Identified 18 Best Practices Including

• Cooperative Governance,
• popular participatory governance practices,
• Batho Pele,
• Multi-Purpose Community Centres,
• the highly consultative Budget Formulation
  Process,
• achievements of the South African Revenue
  Services,
• the Johannesburg Securities Exchange,
• Triple Bottom Line Reporting,
• the Mzansi Account for the un-banked,
• the Financial Service Charter,
• the King Reports,
• self-reliance in development funding,
• provision of basic needs and
• socio-economic rights and
• the successful promotion of gender equality in
  the public sphere.

19
Some Strengths Identified in the Report

• One of the most progressive Constitutions in the
  world, which guarantees both civil and
  socio-economic rights
• Existence of a political environment conducive to
  political debate, dialogue and contestation
• Significant progress made in signing, ratifying
  and implementing international standards and
  codes
• First-world economic and physical infrastructure
  
• The largest and most sophisticated economy in
  Africa
• Sound, transparent and predictable economic
  policies
• Strong public financial management system
• Being well-positioned technologically to be able
  to compete in the global market
• Strong representation of women in the public
  sector.

20
Cross-cutting Issues and Challenges

• Unemployment
• Capacity constraints and poor service delivery
• Poverty and inequality
• Land reform
• Violence against women
• Violence against children
• HIV and AIDS pandemic
• Corruption
• Crime
• Racism and xenophobia and
• Managing diversity.

21
Challenges with the Country Report

• In line with the APRM MOU, the NGC was consulted
  on the first draft of the Country Review Report
• The draft Report and the POA was then leaked to
  the media
• All NGC members and their organisations were
  encouraged to comment on the Draft Report
• Some responded verbally and in writing
• Subsequently, the government was accused by civil
  society and the media of withholding the Report,
  rejecting it, ignoring its recommendations and
  doctoring both the Report and the POA
• This despite the reality that interaction between
  the Panel and Focal Point led to substantial
  enhancement of both the Report and the POA

22
Programme of Action

• Results to be achieved Democracy and Political
  Governance
• Forums and mechanisms for social dialogue and
  participation in the delivery and monitoring of
  public services are built and strengthened
• The human rights culture is strengthened
  nationally
• Racism is successfully combated leading to the
  emergence of a truly non-racial society
• Decreases in levels of corruption and building
  national values and integrity in all 3 spheres of
  government and in all sectors of society
• Decrease in levels of crime and in particular
  decreases in the levels of all forms of violence
  and crimes against women and children, and
  changes in the value systems of individuals and
  communities
• Access to justice is increased and improved

23
Programme of Action

• Results to be achieved Economic Governance and
  Management
• Service delivery is improved
• Unemployment is halved by 2014
• Processes for public participation in policy
  formulation and implementation are improved
• Greater efficiency and effectiveness in public
  expenditure management and monitoring
• Harmonisation of economic policies and improved
  trade between member states

24
Programme of Action

• Results to be achieved Corporate Governance
• New companies legislation is adopted
• Increased integration of the national development
  imperatives into the planning and conduct of
  companies.
• The capacity of institutions and systems to
  participate in improving corporate governance is
  built
• The consumer and shareholder activist movements
  are strengthened
• Corporate governance, accountability and
  transparency are built in the non governmental
  sector, including in NGOs, CBOs, labour
  organisations and business.

25
Programme of Action

• Results to be achieved Socio-economic
  Development
• Definitions and measurements of poverty are
  agreed upon and applied
• Land reform contributes to sustainable
  livelihoods
• Improved effectiveness and efficiency of the
  education system at all levels.
• Strategies and programmes to improve childrens
  nutrition and ensure their healthy development
  are successfully implemented.
• Multi-sectoral, collaborative partnerships,
  strategies and programmes to reduce the
  prevalence of HIV and the impact of AIDS and
  other diseases are implemented
• Multi-sectoral, collaborative partnerships,
  strategies and programmes to reduce the
  prevalence and the impact of TB, malaria, and
  other communicable diseases are implemented
• Universal access to constitutionally mandated
  basic rights and services is progressively
  realised
• Social capital is built at local levels,
  particularly in vulnerable and marginalized
  communities and participation of civil society
  organisations in socio-economic development
  processes is improved

26
Role of Business in POA Implementation

• The Business sector is expected to participate
  vigorously in POA implementation
• In particular, representatives from the Business
  sector should participate actively in the working
  groups on
• Economic Governance and Management and
• Corporate Governance as well as on
• Democracy and Political Governance and
• Socio-Economic Development
• Business should consider funding some of the
  projects

27
Priority POA Objectives and Projects of Interest
to Business (1)

• Violence and crime and in particular against
  women and children
• Dealing with unemployment
• Transform second economy and promote employment
  in rural areas
• Promote Corporate Governance compliance for SA
  companies operating elsewhere

28
Priority POA Objectives and Projects of Interest
to Business (2)

• Multi-stakeholder national consultative forum on
  King 3.
• National Ethics campaign in government, civil
  society and business.
• Commission a guardian and champion for
  shareholder/stakeholder activism.
• Develop sustainable public-private partnerships
  in all sectors including ICT

29
Conclusion

• The APRM process was an enriching learning
  experience for all who participated.
• Strengths and challenges in South Africas
  development trajectory were identified in the
  Review.
• South Africa is on the road to creating an
  environment in which the majority of people will
  participate fully in development and benefit
  correspondingly and equitably from the dividends
  of development.
• This is an essential precondition for the country
  to genuinely consolidate its position as a
  Rainbow Nation.
• All stakeholders, led by the government, are
  urged to work together in implementing the
  recommendations and the National Programme of
  Action that emerged from the APRM Review.