Africa: Peer review

2002-10-19 10:48

Johannesburg - Most African countries were likely to subject themselves to a good governance peer review system once they realised the benefits thereof, a United Nations official predicted on Friday.

"We recognise that those states where there is ... good governance are likely to volunteer upfront to be peer reviewed," said UN Economic Commission for Africa chief policy advisor Ron Hope.

"However, as more and more states begin to see the benefits of the peer review process, they would not want to be left behind."

It would soon become clear that there were fruits of economic development to be reaped from co-operating with the system.

"And I suspect that ... these states (not co-operating) will soon come on board."

Hope was briefing reporters in Sandton, Johannesburg, on the eve of a conference of African ministers of finance, planning and economic development. The gathering is expected to discuss concrete ways of getting the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) off the ground.

The need for a peer review mechanism was outlined in the development plan - adopted at the inaugural meeting of the African Union in Durban in July.

Voluntary

Such a review would be entirely voluntary, with no penalties attached.

Detailing some of the benefits of peer review, Hope said some "external partners" had indicated such reviews could substitute some of the "intrusions" that occurred in the past as part of surveillance done by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

"The benefits we expect to be tremendous indeed. Some external partners have said they will use those recommendations and the actions taken by the countries to determine the levels and the nature of the assistance to be provided," he said.

"So the benefits are on both sides. Benefits internally and benefits externally."

Proposals had been made that a review be done in five steps, taking no longer than six months in total. The first step would include an analysis of the governance of a country, followed by consultations with government officials and civil society.

A report would then be compiled, and presented to an independent panel of eminent persons. Once adopted by the panel, the report would be presented to a heads of state implementation committee, after which it would also be tabled before all relevant regional and continental structures.

Hope said no countries have yet volunteered to be reviewed. However, a number of countries had indicated they would become part of the process - which he said would be honest, frank, professional and credible.

Concrete proposals

"We don't expect a big rush to be peer reviewed," he added.

The weekend conference is expected to come up with concrete proposals for bringing Nepad to life.

Under the theme: "Accelerating Africa's Performance and Progress: The challenge of Nepad", the gathering would focus on three areas - actions required by African countries, actions required from outside partners such as the G8, and tracking progress.

It would seek to determine what else needed to be done to ensure Nepad got off the mark.

The conference was preceded by a two-day committee of experts meeting, which would advise the ministers on a future course of action.

The ministers' decisions would be tabled at the next meeting of Nepad's implementation committee in Abuja, Nigeria, next month. That meeting was then expected to make final decisions on issues such as the peer review, the creation of the panel of eminent experts, and the procedures of a review process.

The ministers would after this weekend also make recommendations to their heads of state as to what steps could be taken at country level to get Nepad under way.

ECA spokesperson Peter da Costa said this was the largest gathering yet of senior policy makers on Nepad since its adoption.

"The value of this conference is that you are going to get concrete recommendations of substance which are going to chart the implementation of the initiative.

"So far, Nepad has been talked about at a very high level. Now we're talking turkey. We're talking about what it really takes for Nepad to work in every single country in Africa," da Costa said.

Other issues on the agenda would include debt relief and development assistance. More than 60 ministers were expected to attend.

- SAPA