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The Third Meeting of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)
Panel of Eminent Persons (APR Panel) hosted by the NEPAD Secretariat,
held in Abuja, Nigeria, during 14 and 15 November 2003. Ms. Marie-
Angelique SavanР№ chaired the meeting.
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Six Members of the APR Panel, were present:
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Prof. Adebayo Adedeji
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Amb. Bethuel Kiplagat
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Mr. Mourad Medelci
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Dr. Dorothy Njeuma
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Dr. Chris Stals
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Ms. Marie-Angelique SavanР№
An apology was received from Dr GraР·a Machel
In Attendance were:
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Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, Chairperson of the NEPAD Steering
Committee and Executive Head of the NEPAD Secretariat;
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Professor Ibrahim Gambari, United Nations Under Secretary
General and Special Adviser on Africa;
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Ambassador Isaac Aluko Olukon, Member of the NEPAD
Steering Committee;
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Dr. Kerfalla Yansane, APRM Lead Consultant; and
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Mr. Smunda Mokoena, Deputy Director-General and Member of
the NEPAD Steering Committee.
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Prior to the meeting the Panel was privileged to be received in
audience by H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria and Chairperson of the Heads of State and Government
Implementation Committee (HSGIC) of the New partnership for Africa’s
Development (NEPAD) at the Presidential Villa.
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In his address to the members of the APR Panel, President
Obasanjo outlined the objectives and the evolution of NEPAD. He also
stated that the creation of NEPAD has helped to place Africa at the apex
of the global agenda by:
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Creating an instrument for advancing people-centred sustainable
development in Africa;
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Providing a common African platform from which to engage the rest of
the international community in a dynamic partnership that holds real
prospects for creating a better life for all.
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President Obasanjo reteirated his conviction that Africa through
NEPAD, will comprehensively deal with the indignity of poverty,
ignorance, and economic marginalisation.
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President Obasanjo elaborated on the APRM, which is a process
voluntarily acceded to by member states of the AU as an African selfmonitoring
mechanism. He stressed that the APRM is a critical
instrument for advancing reforms in governance and socio-economic
development and in building capacity to implement these reforms. The
APRM is not an instrument for punishment or exclusion but is meant to
identify and address weaknesses, and share best practices. President
Obasanjo emphasised that it is important to always view the APRM
within the context of NEPAD as an instrument of monitoring and
evaluating the progress we as Africans make in improving governance
and development on the continent.
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President Obasanjo congratulated the Members of the APR Panel
on their appointment and for accepting the difficult but necessary
assignment. He reassured the APR Panel of his unqualified and full
support and that of the other Heads of State and Government who are
participating in the APRM.
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As mandated by the HSGIC, President Obasanjo appointed Ms.
Marie-Angelique SavanР№ from Senegal, Chairperson of the APR Panel with
immediate effect for a period of one year to allow him to consult further
with the Committee of Participating Heads of State and Government of
the APRM (APR Forum). The President further confirmed the
appointment of Mr Mourad Medelci from Algeria as the seventh Member
of the Panel.
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After the audience with President Obasanjo, the APR Panel
members continued their meeting. The Panel considered and adopted,
amongst others:
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Guidelines for Country Preparations for and Participation in
the APRM.
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The APR Panel deliberated on and agreed modalities to finalise the
following:
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questionnaire for country review in the four areas of the
APRM;
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modalities of assistance to countries to prepare for and
participate in the APRM;
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draft Memorandum of Understanding that spells out the
duties and responsibilities of member countries and the
APRM structures;
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draft Memorandum of Understanding that determines the
working relationship between the APRM structures and
Partner Institutions; and
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Code of the APR Country Teams.
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Thereafter, the APR Panel officially launched the country review
process.
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The APR Panel resolved to hold a special meeting to finalise its
Work Programme and the Budget in Johannesburg, South Africa, from
14 to 15 January 2004, in preparation for the proposed meeting of the
Committee of Participating Heads of State and Government of the APRM
(APR Forum) scheduled for 7 February 2004.
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The APR Panel registered its appreciation to the NEPAD Nigeria
Office for its warm welcome and hospitality. The members of the APR
Panel expressed their gratitude to H.E. President Olusegun Obasanjo,
for taking time off his busy schedule to interact with them and provide
invaluable guidance on the conduct of the peer review process and the
implementation of the objectives of the APRM.
Issued in Abuja, Nigeria, 15 November 2003.
End.
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