A. Purpose

1. Brief Parliamentarians on South Africa's peer review process in terms of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

2. Discuss the role of Parliament in the process.

B. Outcomes

1 Approach

1.1. The overall objective of South Africa's APR process is to build consensus on the national programme of action.

1.2. The process will therefore be participatory and inclusive to facilitate open dialogue and cohesion.

1.3. The process will build on Governments ten-year review and focus on the four thematic areas in the APRM Questionnaire i.e. Democracy and Good Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Corporate Governance, Socioeconomic Development.

2. Structure

2.1. The APRM requires a Government Minister to be appointed as the Focal Point. In South Africa, the President has appointed the Minister of Public Service & Administration to this function.

2.1. Professor A. Adedeji, a member of the Panel of Eminent Persons, has been assigned to facilitate and oversee South Africa's APR process.

2.3. A Governing Council comprising representatives of Government, civil society and other stakeholders will oversee the process.

The following Ministers will be members of the Council:

• Minister of Public Service & Administration
• Minister in the Presidency
• Minister of Finance
• Minister of Trade & Industry
• Minister of Justice

2.4. Civil Society representatives will be drawn from the Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) Chapter in South Africa and will be decided by the ECOSOCC Chapter.

2.5. The Governing Council will be inaugurated at the end of the 1^st National Consultative Conference on Thursday, 29 September 2005.

2.6. To uphold the democratic principle of separation of powers, Parliament will be excluded from the Governing Council.

2.7. Parliament should embark on its own process for involvement in South Africa's APR process, including a public awareness/education campaign and public involvement.

2.8. Parliament will be invited to participate in the National and Provincial Consultative Forums being planned.

3. Process

3.1. An extensive awareness and information strategy will be implemented spanning September 2005 - June 2006.

3.2. President Mbeki will formally submit South Africa to the APRM peer review process at the opening of the 1^st National Consultative Conference on 28-29 September 2005.

3.3. Nine Provincial/Sectoral consultative conferences will be convened during September and October 2005.

3.4. Community Development Workers will facilitate approximate 90 community-based workshops (10 per province) during September and October 2005.

3.5. Individuals and institutions will be able to make submissions by post, via the Internet and through a 1020 call centre number.

3.6. The Chapter 9 and Chapter 10 institutions will also play a role in South Africa's self assessment as independent sources of information and evaluation.

3.7. The Country Support Mission headed by Prof. Adedeji will be hosted on 20-21 October 2005. The process should be completed within nine months from this date. Parliament should be prepared to receive the Country Support Mission and facilitate consultations as requested.

3.8. The draft country assessment report and draft programme of action, including collation and analysis of all submissions and outcomes of the consultative conferences/workshops will be prepared during October and November 2005.

3.9. The 2^nd National Consultative Conference to discuss the draft country assessment report and the draft programme of action is planned for November 2005.

3.10. The draft country assessment report and draft programme of action will be finalised in December 2005 and submitted to parliament for comment.

3.11. The final country assessment report and programme of action will be submitted to the APRM Secretariat in February 2006.

3.12. South Africa will have an opportunity to respond to the Issues Paper produced by the APRM Secretariat.

3.13. The APR Country Review Team will be hosted in April 2006.

3.14. The Country review Team report together with South Africa's response will be submitted to the Heads of State in May 2006.

3.15. The final report should be published publicly by June 2006.

3.16. Government Departments and civil society will be mobilised for implementation of the Programme of Action. Parliament should oversee the progress of implementation.

African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)

Progress Report and Implementation Road Map

• To conduct a country self-assessment in line with the African Peer Review Mechanism guidelines in four thematic areas, namely; Democracy & Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Corporate Governance and Socio-Economic Development of.

• To produce a programme of action based on the country assessment report.

Background to the APRM

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a voluntary self-monitoring tool that was agreed upon by member states of the African Union in the 6^th Summit of Heads of States and Government Implementation Committee of NEPAD.

The Minister for the Public Service and Administration has been designated the Focal Point for the South African process and is charged with the overall responsibility for leading the process. An inter-departmental committee that will render secretarial support to the Focal Point (MPSA) has been established.

South Africa' strategic objectives include establishing benchmarks for future peer review processes. The review will also contribute to the strengthening of national mechanisms for assessing government's performance. It intends building and popularising a broader sense of ownership for the People's Contract. The review will support the building of African based experience and knowledge systems.

Progress to date

The Focal Point secretariat has hosted two consultative conferences for the public service on the APRM. These workshops were used to create awareness and to outline the strategic approach and modalities for participation in the process.

Key departments that are critical for providing data on the four thematic areas were identified. These are departments of National Treasury, Trade and Industry, Justice and Constitutional Development, Foreign Affairs, The Presidency and Statistics South Africa. The focal point secretariat held meetings with the Directors General (DG's) of the various departments to outline the research and consultation methodology and the implementation process, as well as identifying and allocating responsibilities.

Preparations for hosting the first national consultative conference comprising all stakeholders are at an advanced stage. The conference is scheduled to take place on the 28-29 September 2005. This conference will outline the research methodology, implementation and consultation process, share experiences from other countries and outline the manner of participation of the various stakeholders. It will also be used to inaugurate the National Peer Review Governing Council.

The planning and preparatory processes undertaken to date include:

• Development of a comprehensive budget and funding strategy (Budget and funding strategy are attached as Annexure B)

• Development of a research and consultation strategy1 and an action plan to guide implementation. The research and consultation strategy is elaborated in Annexure A.

• Engaging with Parliament and Provincial Premiers on the preparations for the provincial consultative conferences

• Engaging with key stakeholders such as ECOSOCC, Organised Business, Organised Labour

• Liaising with Directors General in the provinces and in all national Departments

• Contracting 8 independent and well respected experts to develop opinion papers (two for each of the focus areas of the APRM)

• Contracting 2 independent researchers to facilitate the collection, capturing and analysis of relevant primary data, that will be obtained from completed questionnaires and conference reports, and secondary information obtained from existing reports

• Development of a communication strategy and promotional materials such as posters and flyers and scripts for TV and Radio Adverts.

· Media briefing held on the 13 September 2005 and distribution of relevant promotional materials and other introductory media briefs held in prior to this major one.

• Conduct training for the Civil Society and Community Development Workers on the APRM. (17 September 2005)

• The APRM questionnaire is available on the DPSA website w.w.w. dosa.gov.za from and development of a dedicated national website on the government portal

• Development of a comprehensive database of stakeholders

• Development of a programme for the first consultative conference

• Distributing invitations and information packs to stakeholders for the first consultative conference.

Implementation Road Map : Critical Steps for the next 3-6 months

• Popularise the APRM through TV and radio adverts and talk shows and through regular opinion pieces the newspaper (September 2005 - June 2006)

• Engage with other constitutional bodies/institutions and Higher Education Institutions in order to solicit input from their constituencies. Such constituencies include students, lecturers and institutions set up to protect the constitutional rights of women, children, minority and indigenous languages etc (15-25 September 2005)

• Successfully host the first national conference (28-29 September 2005)

• Inaugurate the National Peer Review Governing Council (28-29 September 2005)

• Host the Country Support Mission (20-21 October 2005)

• Convene 9 Provincial/Sectoral consultative conferences and approximately 90 community based workshops (September-October 2005)

· Receive and collate input from all consultative sessions, government departments, organised civil society structures, and from individuals or institutions who decide to make their submissions via the internet (September

• October 2005)

· Develop a draft country assessment report and programme of action (October-November 2005)

• Host the second national consultative conference to discuss the draft country assessment report and programme of action (November 2005)

• Finalise a draft country assessment report and programme of action (December 2005)

• Submit the final country assessment report and programme of action to parliament for endorsement.

· Submit the final report to the APRM Secretariat (February 2006)

· Host the APR Country Review Team (April 2006)

· Submit the Review Panel report to the Heads of States (May 2006)

· Publicise the final report (June 2006)

Concluding remarks

Considerable progress has been made thus far, and the build up towards the first national consultative conference is critical because this is the first major event that will set the scene for the provincial and community consultative conferences and workshops.

Attachments

Annexure A: Research and Consultation Strategy

Annexure B: Funding Strategy and Budget

• South Africa's APEM Self Assessment Report and Programme of Actor will be developed through a participatory and inclusive process.

• A range of different mechanisms will be used to ensure that all citizens have a fair opportunity to contribute to the process.

• These are described below.

• The communication campaign will encourage the submission of comments and encourage debate on the issue.

• Representatives of civil society organisations and various sectors including women, youth, organised business and processes organised labour have been invited to undertake their own processes for developing perspectives for the Self Assessment Report.

• The South African Chapter of the Economic Cultural and Social Council of the AU will be involved in the process.

• They will be able to contribute m the Country Report and contribute in other ways they will still determine.

• Contributions will be made through formal submissions and participation in national, provincial and community level Conferences and workshops.

• These contributions will be integrated into the draft country assessment report.

• Each question in the APRM Master Questionnaire has been allocated to a government Department with responsibility to gather quantitative and technical data covering the relevant performance indicators.

• These submissions will be coordinated and collated by the Focal Point Secretariat.

First national consultative Conference

• A National consultative conference will be held to appoint the National Governing Council and to consult stakeholders on the process and content for the Report and Programme of Action.

• The Conference will be held from 2S to 29 September in Pretoria.

• Eight independent opinion makers have been invited to develop analytical discussion papers.

• These will be presented at the First National Consultative Conference to initiate and encourage debate.

Country Support Mission

• The APRM will send a Country Support Mission to review South Africa's preparations and readiness.

• This will assist in ensuring that South Africa's process meets the APRM's requirements.

• Members of the public will be invited to contribute opinions and submissions and suggestions on the issues covered by the Master Questionnaire.

• A website is being set up to facilitate the receipt of their contributions.

• Postal submission will also be encouraged.

• All bodes responsible for protecting the South African democracy will be invited to make submissions.

• All institutions of higher education are to be invited to make submissions and contribute to the report.

• Exact details of their role will be determined.

• Provinces have been invited to participate in the process by hosting provincial conferences.

• At these conferences the issues relevant to provinces will be discussed and proposals made for the programme of action.

• Community development workers will facilitate ten community consultations in each province

• These consultations will also generate contributions for the Report and Programme of Action.

Integration and editing

• A research and writing team has been appointed to collect and integrate all the inputs being generated.

• The approach will be to avoid censoring anyone and to provide a thorough reflection of the scope of opinions expressed.

• A record will be kept of all submissions received and reports consulted.

• Once initial drafts of the Report and Programme of Action have been developed these will be presented to a second Consultative Conference .

• This Conference will review and amend the Report and Programme of Action

• The final report and programme of action will be submitted to Parliament for endorsement.

Conclusion

• The APRM Country Review Team will visit South Africa and review our Self Assessment report and Programme of Action

• The Report will be publicised once it has been endorsed by the Heads of State.

• Government departments will be mobilised along with civil society to support implementation of the Programme of Action.

ANNEXURE B

Funding Strategy and Estimate Budget

The initial budget was estimated at R7.5 million. This was however increased in line with the expansion of the consultation processes. By the end of August 2005, the budget for the APRM process, for the period April 2005 to Dune 2006, was projected at approximately R9.1 million. This amount includes professional fees for contracted researchers; the hosting of two national and 9 provincial consultative conferences, and approximately 90 community based workshops; communication; printing and posting; travel, accommodation and catering for conferences and workshops.

The budget for workshop and conference expenses will cover catering for all participants; however, accommodation and travel will be covered mainly for financially dependant's components of civil society such as community-based organisations, church and rural groups and youth. Financially sustainable structures such as organised business and national government departments will be required to pay for themselves. As such, the actual costs of the entire process may exceed the projected R9.1 million if the expenses of stakeholders who cover their own costs are factored in.

Should the Focal Point deem it necessary to expand the consultation process and communication strategy further, the budget will be revised to cater for the projected extra costs. The Focal Point secretariat will however put measures in place to ensure that the total cost to Government, of implementing the APRM, does not exceed R12 million.

The South African Government will cover the estimate R9.1 million and the funds will be channelled through the Focal Point secretariat, that is, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA).

As discussed and agreed with the APRM Secretariat, international travel, daily living allowances and professional fees for the ARPM support mission and review panel have not been catered for since these are covered by the APRM Secretariat. However, provision is made for local travel and accommodation expenses. The R9.1 million has not made provision for special security arrangements because at the time of developing the budget, it was not clear if members of the country support mission and review panels will require special security measure.

Approximately 90% of the budget will be utilised by the end of December 2005 and the balance will cover toe hosting of the APRM review panel and their consultations with stakeholders and the duplication and distribution of the final report.