Algiers, Algeria November 21, 2024: The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria successfully hosted the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Peer Review (APR) Focal Points Committee on 21st November 2024 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs in Algiers, Algeria.
The APR Focal Points are Personal Representatives of Heads of State and Government of African Peer Review Mechanism Participating States (Ministers). They serve as an intermediary body between the APR Forum of Heads of State and Government and the APRM Continental Secretariat with the responsibility of providing strategic direction to the APRM Continental Secretariat.
H.E Selma Bakhta Mansouri, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and responsible for African Affairs presided over the APR Focal Points meeting in her capacity as the Chairperson of the APR Committee of Focal Points. Also, in attendance was Amb. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, Chairperson of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons, other APR Panel members attended online and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Amb. Marie Antoinette Rose Quatre and the Secretariat staff.
During the opening ceremony, the APRM CEO, Amb Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, appreciated the warmth welcome received from the Government and the people of Algeria. She congratulated H.E Selma Bakhta Mansouri on her appointment as the new Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and responsible for African Affairs and Chairperson of the APR Focal Points Committee. The APRM CEO revealed that her vision is to position the APRM to deliver on its mandate with tangible results. She stated that she will be guided by the 3P Strategy of Professionalism, Performance and Probity and the essence of universal Africa philosophy of Ubuntu, “I am because we are," which transcends all beliefs and convictions, and supports collectivism over individualism.
Ambassador Rose Quatre implored on APRM Members States to continue supporting the mechanism financially and avoid its heavy reliance on partners’ support to deliver on its core mandate which are country reviews and assessments. Ambassador Rose Quatre further assured the Committee members that the Secretariat is currently reviewing both the APRM Governance Atlas and APRM Index and will re-submit to the Focal Points for consideration.
Ambassador Inonge Lewanika-Mbikusita also delivered her statement during opening ceremony wherein she recalled that the mandate of the Committee of Focal Points, as a decision-making body, is to support the Mechanism in delivering on its core mandate which is to conduct country Reviews. She stated that as the Panel they took note of the fact that the APRM Secretariat had encountered challenges including financial constraints which prevented the mechanism to conduct these country reviews and assessments.
The Opening Statement was delivered by H.E Selma Bakhta Mansouri, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and responsible for African Affairs and Chairperson of the APR Focal Points Committee. Amb. Selma Bakhta Mansouri reaffirmed the commitment of the Algerian government to provide the necessary support to the APRM to deliver on its mandate. She underscored that the key priorities of the APRM going forward should be translating country reviews and assessments into tangible outcomes, strengthening engagements, mobilisation of resources, and enhancing APRM early warning and rapid response capabilities. She emphasised the need for the APRM to position itself to act decisively so as to deliver results.
The Committee acknowledged with great appreciation the positive achievements realised by the APRM CEO, Amb. Rose Quatre since assuming office on 3rd June 2024. The meeting approved with satisfaction the proposals of the APRM CEO on the reconfiguration of the APRM Continental Secretariat, e-governance being the 6th thematic Area of the APRM Review Process, acceleration of the operationalisation of the APRM Governance Support Programme, sustainable financing of the APRM in particular its core mandate.
The APR Focal Points Committee also approved recommended list of member states forming the APR Focal Points Streeting Committee as follows: Algeria (Chair), Uganda, Sierra Leone, Egypt, Cote Ivoire, Ethiopia, Burundi, and South Africa. The First Meeting of the APR Focal Points Steering Committee will be held in December 2024, in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.
The meeting took note of progress on the development of the APRM Third Strategic Plan (2025-2028), the African Governance Report-2025 focusing on Natural Resources Governance in Africa, and the Establishment of the African Credit Rating Agency as directed by the 45th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council held in July 2024 in Accra, Republic of Ghana. The meeting urged the APRM Continental Secretariat to accelerate efforts in finalising these projects.
The meeting also took note of the proposed upcoming APRM and AU Statutory Meetings and events as well as the Draft Agenda of the 3rd Extraordinary APRM Summit and 34th APRM Summit scheduled to take place on the margins of the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of heads of State and Government planned for 15-16 February 2024.
H.E Selma, Bakhta Mansouri, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and responsible for African Affairs and Chairperson of the APR Focal Points Committee officially closed the meeting. In her closing remarks she expressed her gratitude for the fruitful deliberation of the meeting that provided guidance to APRM Continental. She expressed gratitude to the Focal Points for the support and enlightening discussions that have enriched the APRM. She commended Amb Rose Quatre, APRM CEO, for her professionalism and dedication that are the backbone of the APRM.
About the APRM: The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is an autonomous entity of the African Union, established in 2003. It functions as a voluntary self-monitoring tool for African Union Member States, aimed at promoting and strengthening governance in four thematic areas: Democracy and Political Governance, Economic Governance, Corporate Governance, and Socio-Economic Development.
Issued by the APRM Continental Secretariat.
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