ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

African Peer Review Mechanism

Ok, so you know how when we play games or do things at school you often get a friend to check your work or behaviour to make sure you did everything right? Well, that's what the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is all about, but for countries in Africa.

Basically, the APRM is a way for African countries to check on each other and make sure they are doing things right in four main areas: democracy and good governance, economic management, social development, and environmental management.

Each African country that wants to join the APRM gets looked at by other African countries who are already members. These "reviewers" go to the country that is being checked and talk to lots of different people like government officials, business leaders, activists, and regular citizens.

They ask them questions to find out things like how fair the elections are, whether people have enough jobs and good healthcare, and whether the environment is being taken care of.

Then, these reviewers write up a report about what they found and make recommendations for how the country can improve. These recommendations go back to the country being reviewed, and they have to come up with a plan to follow them.

The idea behind the APRM is to help African countries work together to make sure everyone is doing things the right way and to share ideas on how to improve. Like when we ask our friends to check our work, countries can help each other out by giving advice and support. It's all about being good neighbours!