APRM Puts Namibia’s Governance Reforms Under Regional Spotlight
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has taken Namibia’s governance reform agenda to the grassroots, launching a nationwide stakeholder validation exercise to assess how far the country has implemented recommendations arising from its national governance review.
The consultations, being conducted across all 14 regions of Namibia, will feed into a draft APRM progress report on the implementation of the Namibia Country Review Report and its National Programme of Action (NPoA).
The exercise is expected to provide a broad-based assessment of Namibia’s progress on governance, accountability and national development, while identifying areas where implementation of agreed reforms remains incomplete.
According to the APRM National Secretariat, the consultations are designed to allow stakeholders to “review, validate and enrich” the draft progress report before it is submitted to the APRM Continental Secretariat.
The process will bring together regional and local authority councillors, government ministries and agencies, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector, youth organisations, organisations of persons with disabilities, faith-based organisations, academic institutions and other stakeholders.
The broad participation is intended to ensure that the assessment is not limited to government perspectives but reflects experiences and views from communities, businesses and civil society across the country.
The APRM said the consultations form part of its “inclusive stakeholder engagement process” aimed at validating progress in implementing recommendations contained in Namibia’s Country Review Report and NPoA.
The exercise also provides stakeholders with an opportunity to identify implementation gaps and contribute additional information before the progress report is finalised.
The APRM National Secretariat has placed particular emphasis on the role of the media, inviting journalists to conduct radio, television, print and online interviews with APRM officials and participating stakeholders.
It also called on media organisations to provide coverage of the consultations and “share information with the public to promote awareness and participation in the APRM process.”
The consultations began in August and will continue through September, covering Namibia’s 14 regions.
The programme includes engagements in Kunene, Zambezi, Kavango East, Otjozondjupa, Kavango West, Omaheke, Ohangwena, //Kharas, Hardap, Erongo, Oshana, Khomas, Omusati and Oshikoto.
Consultations have been scheduled in major towns and constituencies including Opuwo, Khorixas, Katima Mulilo, Rundu, Otjiwarongo, Okahandja, Gobabis, Eenhana, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, Mariental, Swakopmund, Oshakati, Ongwediva, Windhoek, Outapi, Ruacana, Omuthiya and Tsumeb.
The nationwide exercise comes as the APRM seeks to establish how governance commitments have translated into actual implementation at regional and local levels.
The mechanism’s approach is based on broad participation, with governments, civil society, businesses, communities and other stakeholders contributing to the assessment of national governance performance.
For Namibia, the validation exercise therefore represents an opportunity to test the implementation of its governance reform commitments against realities on the ground.
It could also highlight areas requiring additional action, policy adjustments or stronger institutional coordination before the country’s progress report is submitted at continental level.
The APRM has urged stakeholders to participate actively in the consultations, stressing the importance of “transparency and informed dialogue on governance, accountability and national development.”
The final progress report will be submitted to the APRM Continental Secretariat after the conclusion of the stakeholder validation process.
The outcome is expected to provide a consolidated assessment of Namibia’s progress in implementing its Country Review Report and National Programme of Action, while strengthening public ownership of the country’s governance reform process.
