What is the project is doing:

The project will provide valuable information to Mozambique and the stakeholders on areas needing more attention in the process of Governance, (political, socio-economic and corporate). This information is given by the Country Report and the National Programme of Action on APRM. The project will build the capacity of Civil Society and the public in general to improve their participation in the development process of the country.  

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a mutually agreed process in which African governments submit to scrutiny by other African governments that are members the African Union. More information about the mechanism can be found at the APRM website http://aprm.krazyboyz.co.za/  .

How is this being achieved:

The objective is to allow the contribution of general citizens in the governance process of the country through the agreed tool (APRM), based on a participatory and inclusive approach of citizens at central and decentralized levels, including monitoring of its implementation

The project relies on the Country Self Assessment, which basically was the result of an assessment to carried out throughout the country to ascertain citizen’s views and inputs on four key thematic areas, namely Democratic and Good Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Corporate Governance and Socio-Economic Development.

The project has raised public awareness on the APRM through media and the civil society organizations. The civil society has contributed to the process on provincial level. The project will also organize provincial seminars to disseminate the Country Report and National Programme of Action.

Why:

The APRM process is very important since it looks at the citizen’s assessment of the situation of the country in the above mentioned areas, and comes with proposals based on the country’s views of itself. Thus, it is believed that there is a great potential for success since it is an endogenous process. Furthermore, the implementation of recommendations (Plan of Action) is integrated into country’s planning instruments and making its monitoring a normal exercise. Its funding is also mostly based on the national resources.

MDGs supported:

MDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8

Who are involved:

The Ministry for Planning and Development is the implementing partner of this project. The National APRM Forum has been overseeing and monitoring the process and the Technical Unit coordinating and managing it. The first National APRM Forum with 59 members (the picture) has been representing various sectors of the society in the self-assessment process. Civil Society Organizations have been mostly involved at decentralized level (provinces). The UNDP team is responsible for the supervision of project management, including management of funds and policy advisory services.

Location:

National

Results:

• The APRM National Forum (FN) was set up to supervise the procedures to make the APRM operational in the Mozambique
• The National Secretariat to support the APRM Focal Point was set up
• A technical Unit (UT) was established to coordinate and manage the process of making the APRM operational in the country
• Civil society was mobilised at national, provincial and district levels to guarantee its participation in the APRM, although this process could have been improved
• The Country self-assessment study was carried, based on which the National Programme of Action was designed, and submitted to the APRM Continental Secretariat
• Country Review Mission visited Mozambique to gauge the results of the Country's Self-Assessment and the National Porgramme of Action
• Country Report - submitted to the APRM Continetal Forum
• National Programme of Action - submitted to the APRM Continental Forum
• It is expected that the results of this project would boost the culture of citizens’ participation in the country’s development and governance.