Agricultural Policy-Making in Sub Saharan Africa: APRM Process in Kenya

Abstract

Introduction The New Partnership for Africa‘s Development (NEPAD) was adopted by the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit held in Lusaka, Zambia, in July 2001. NEPAD is a strategic policy framework for Africa‘s renewal and rebirth. The primary objectives of NEPAD are to eradicate poverty; place African countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development; halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process and enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy; and accelerate the empowerment of women (NEPAD, 2003). The five core principles of NEPAD are good governance; peace, stability and security; sound economic policy-making and management; effective partnerships; and domestic ownership and leadership. A centerpiece of the NEPAD good governance initiative is the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which is a voluntary mechanism that countries review themselves on several agreed criteria. The primary purpose of the APRM is: “to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration through sharing of experiences and reinforcement of successful and best practice, including identifying deficiencies and assessing the needs for capacity building.” Countries are assisted to achieve NEPAD’s objectives through constructive peer dialogue and persuasion and sharing of information and opening themselves to critical scrutiny by both peers (other African countries) and independent and widely respected, so-called eminent persons assessing itself on a set of objectives, standards, criteria and indicators in various domains of governance and development.