Midrand – 13 August 2025 - The 10th Meeting of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Focal Points Steering Committee was held from 7 to 8 August 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa, marking a significant time in Africa’s ongoing journey towards strengthened governance, transparency and continental solidarity. Hosted by the Republic of South Africa, the two-day gathering brought together national focal points serving on the APRM Steering Committee to deliberate on strategic priorities for the APRM Continental Secretariat and reflect on a year of bold steps, institutional reform and renewed commitment.
Opening the meeting, Honourable Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, South Africa’s Minister of Public Service and Administration and APRM Focal Point, welcomed delegates with a powerful statement on African unity and governance. He expressed deep honour in hosting the Steering Committee and affirmed South Africa’s enduring commitment to the APRM’s mission. The minister also lauded the recent launch of the 2025–2028 Strategic Plan and the upcoming APRM Communicators’ Network among other initiatives planned for this year.
Building on the opening message, Ambassador Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre, CEO of the APRM Continental Secretariat acknowledged the steadfast support of the Steering Committee and the government of South Africa. In addition, Ambassador Rose-Quatre highlighted strong strides in resource mobilisation, citing voluntary contributions from APRM Participating States, including a USD 1 million from Algeria, USD 100,000 from Togo, and the contributions of USD 100,000 from Liberia and Senegal towards settling their arrears. She also mentioned new commitments from traditional and emerging partners to support APRM’s ambitious programme for the year ahead.
Despite these gains, she warned of a projected budget shortfall, urging Member States to honour their financial commitments. Echoing President Thabo Mbeki, Ambassador Rose-Quatre reminded delegates that the mission of good governance is noble and necessary, requiring resilience, partnership and sustained leadership.
The Chairperson of the APR Focal Points Committee, Ambassador Selma Bakhta Mansouri, Secretary of State for African Affairs to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, reaffirmed Algeria’s support for the APRM. Her remarks set the tone for strategic introspection, urging delegates to align APRM’s institutional model and operational tools with Africa’s evolving governance landscape. She stressed the importance of transparency, performance accountability and disciplined financial management.
Representatives from the APRM Secretariat outlined ongoing efforts to address key human resource challenges including staffing gaps and the need to realign roles in line with the organisation’s evolving strategic priorities. The 2025 financial report was also presented, showcasing notable progress in securing contributions from member states and partners, and highlighting the APRM’s clean (unqualified) audit for 2024, a remarkable achievement in strengthening financial accountability. A comprehensive update on resource mobilisation followed, detailing the implementation of member states and partner-funded initiatives. In addition, delegates received a progress report on upcoming country and targeted review missions, which outlined cost-reduction strategies and confirmed upcoming assessments in Egypt, Zimbabwe, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Two flagship initiatives came into sharp focus during the discussions. Updates were provided on the Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) which is designed to deliver fairer, African-led credit assessments that better reflect the continent’s economic realities. Reflections were also made on the Africa Governance Report 2025, launched in Accra, Ghana, on 30 July 2025, which explores natural resource governance in Africa, highlighting themes of equity, sustainability and strategic policy reform.
As the curtains closed on the 10th APRM Focal Points Steering Committee Meeting, the APRM prepares to usher in a new chapter guided by African values, youth inclusion, integrity, and a collective vision for good governance.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact: APRM Continental Secretariat at info@aprm-au.org.
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