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Tanzania to undergo external APRM assessment in June
2008-02-14 11:01:04
By Judica Tarimo, Zanzibar
Tanzania`s good governance, social and economic development would be subjected to external technical assessment by experts from the New.
Economic Partnership for Africa`s Development (NEPAD) from June, this year.
The assessment, expected to cover a wide range of sectors, is conducted in the context of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), a brainchild of African states developed to monitor the progress made by these countries in governance, good practices, democracy and political governance.
Other priority areas earmarked for APRM include economic governance and management, corporate governance and socio-economic governance.
Daudi Mkangara, the APRM-Tanzania executive secretary, said in an exclusive interview at an APRM seminar for Zanzibar government principal secretaries and senior government officials, that at the moment his organisation was conducting countrywide sensitisation seminars for various segments of the country`s population.``
The official said the seminars would go hand in hand with the APRM assessment by local experts after which external experts would be invited for scrutiny.
APRM incorporates two components - the country`s self-assessment and assessment by other people from African countries with a view to enhancing transparency and integrity for the entire process.
Education and sensitisation activities plus review processes at the local levels, according to Mkangara, will probably be concluded in May, this year.
``After that, APRM reports would be produced and taken back to the stakeholders for discussions and addition of inputs. External assessment experts from NEPAD are also expected for the review at that time,`` he said.
If everything goes as planned, APRM-Tanzania executive secretary said, external assessors might conclude their assignment in August and September, this year, after which the report would be forwarded to higher levels.
Opening the seminar, Zanzibar Chief Secretary Ramadhani Mwinyi said NEPAD, a home-grown development initiative, was an important instrument for the well-being of poor African states and for the stimulation of sustainable development and growth on the continent.
``It`s a more viable solution to Africa`s quest to development, which African nations need to take full advantage of,`` said Mwinyi.
The Isles official said peer review mechanism, a component of NEPAD, had great impact on governance and other development components in Africa.
APRM, he added, fosters adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated subregional and continental economic integration.
Educative APRM seminars, according to the officials, provide an opportunity for stakeholders including the public, to understand the mission, short- and long-term objectives, operations and nature of APRM assessment.
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