The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) was set up by the African Union as a voluntary governance self-monitoring system within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Originating from and ‘owned’ by African countries, it provides an opportunity for civil society participation and public dialogue on governance issues. The review process includes country self-assessments based on a questionnaire, expert review teams, and on-site visits by expert review teams who consult with government, private sector and civil society representatives. The process also involves active plenary discussions, revision and publication of country reports and action plans. In spite of early evidence of positive impact, the APRM still faces major challenges of human, financial, technical and political nature. Major weaknesses include the lack of an effective follow up mechanism to monitor the implementation of recommendations and the limited level of civil society participation i