03/10/2026
Governance performance is measured through putting recommendations into practice-APRM Continental Secretariat Legal Counsel Maile
The true measure of assessing progress in governance performance across the African continent is not anchored in producing review reports, but in putting their recommendations into practice, says Legal Counsel at the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Continental Secretariat, Mr Majane Maile.
“The APRM has made significant progress in assessing governance performance across the [African] continent.
Yet we recognise that the true measure of success lies not in producing review reports, but in putting their recommendations into practice.
“Turning recommendations into reforms takes funding, technical expertise and strong national coordination.
The APRM Governance Support Programme is designed to help Member States access that support and put their priorities into action.
“The Programme will provide practical implementation support through targeted technical assistance, institutional capacity development, knowledge exchange and policy advisory services. It will also strengthen partnerships with African Union Organs, Regional Economic Communities, development parters and national institutions.
“This Programme will support APRM Participating States that have undergone peer review as they implement their national programmes of action as well as helping partners coordinate funding around agreed priorities,” he said.
Mr Maile was speaking at the certificate hand-over ceremony of the inaugural cohort of the Managing Change and Public Value Governance Programme (PVG) held in Maritime School of Excellence in Durban on Friday.
He told the cohort who successfully completed the PVG programme that effective governance requires institutions that are accountable, transparent, inclusive and responsive to the needs and aspirations of citizens, with municipalities holding a unique and indispensable role.
According to the APRM Secretariat Legal Counsel, a Head of State and Government will champion the Programme, with approval of the APR Forum of Heads of State and Government, followed by endorsement by the African Union Assembly, adding that the Champion will lead efforts to mobilise resources and support.
He also used the platform to announce that President Cyril Ramaphosa has agreed to serve as the Champion of the Programme.
According Mr Maile, the APR Committee of Focal Points during their 41st Ordinary session held last month, approved with satisfaction the proposal by South Africa to champion the programme.
“In accordance with the established African Union procedures and processes, the legal instrument has since been submitted to the Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission for legal scrubbing and onward transmission to the Specialised Technical Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (STC),” he said.
The STC is responsible for the thorough consideration of all legal instruments of the AU prior to the submission to the Executive Council and ultimately the Assembly for consideration and adoption.
Meanwhile, the STC on Justice and Legal Affairs is scheduled to convene from October 19-30, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mr Maile said: “we are working diligently to ensure that the draft legal instrument is considered and approved by the STC, and subsequently by the Executive Council and the AU Assembly in January 2027.
"We further envisage a High-Level Presidential Launch of the APRM Governance Support Programme on APRM Day, March 9, 2027, in South Africa.”
In his own words, Mr Maile said: “the APRM Governance Support Programme is expected to improve implementation of country review recommendations and strengthen institutions and human resources.
It is also expected to support more voluntary reforms, improve continental coordination on governance, peace, democracy and development, and increase the involvement of civil society and other non-state actors in policy dialogue and accountability.”
The APRM Continental Secretariat Legal Counsel strongly believes that governance reforms must lead to tangible improvements, better public services, stronger institutions, greater transparency and accountability, more inclusive economic opportunities, and a higher quality of life for our people.
The APRM Strategic Plan 2025-2028 places citizens at the centre of governance because good governance is meaningful only when it improves people’s lives.
“Therefore, the overarching objective of the governance support programme is simple…yet transformative: to make the APRM more relevant to the everyday lives of African citizens,” he said.
![[DOWNLOAD]📣 PUBLIC SERVICE VACANCY CIRCULAR 38/2026https://www.dpsa.gov.za/dpsa2g/documents/vacancies/2026/PSV%20CIRCULA...](https://img5.globgov.com/539/138/1634354975391387.jpg)
![[DOWNLOAD]📣 PUBLIC SERVICE VACANCY CIRCULAR 37/2026https://www.dpsa.gov.za/dpsa2g/documents/vacancies/2026/PSV%20CIRCULA...](https://img5.globgov.com/275/921/1627343362759215.jpg)
![[DOWNLOAD]📣PUBLIC SERVICE VACANCY CIRCULAR 36/2026https://www.dpsa.gov.za/dpsa2g/documents/vacancies/2026/PSV%20CIRCULAR...](https://img3.globgov.com/014/444/1620157710144447.jpg)
