Afrobarometer (www.Afrobarometer.org) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) have renewed their partnership with a three-year memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening collaboration on governance data, monitoring, and evidence-based policy making across Africa. 

APRM CEO Amb. Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre and Afrobarometer CEO Joseph Asunka signed the agreement on the sidelines of the APRM’s Third Africa High-Level Forum on South-South and Triangular Cooperation last week in Freetown, Sierra Leone. 

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life.  A wide range of stakeholders routinely use Afrobarometer data in policy planning, programme development and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.  

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a specialised agency of the African Union that supports good governance through voluntary assessments, peer learning, and national reform programmes aligned with Africa’s development goals. 

Over the years, Afrobarometer data have served as a valuable resource for several APRM publications, including Africa Governance Report 2023: Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa (https://apo-opa.co/3H8rKAC). In addition, the APRM drew on Afrobarometer’s expertise in developing the methodology and tools for its African Governance Atlas. Through the Data for Governance Alliance project, led by Afrobarometer, the two institutions have also collaborated on several webinars and events. 

The renewed partnership aims to improve the availability and use of citizen-centred data by aligning Afrobarometer’s public opinion research with APRM governance-monitoring tools such as the Africa Governance Index and national programmes of action. The two institutions will also work together to strengthen data systems, build capacity, and promote the inclusion of youth and gender-focused governance indicators.  

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to putting citizens at the heart of governance,” said Asunka. “By aligning our data systems and sharing expertise, we can ensure that public opinion is not only heard but used to shape responsive and accountable leadership, and also accelerate progress on Agenda 2063.” 

“We’ve been working very closely with Afrobarometer for a while now because the work that APRM does is evidence-based,” Quartre added. “This MoU reflects a level of commitment to collaborate with each other and to really enrich our work on the ground and in the member states.”