[September 2025] On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Development Reimagined (DR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing African-led approaches to governance and economic transformation.
The discussion focused on deepening collaboration in areas that are increasingly central to Africa’s development trajectory. At a time when global systems continue to shape economic outcomes across the continent, there is growing urgency for African institutions to play a stronger role in defining standards, narratives and solutions.
A key area of focus was the Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA). This initiative represents an important step towards addressing longstanding concerns about how African economies are assessed in global financial markets. Existing rating systems have often failed to capture the full picture of risk and opportunity across the continent, with direct implications for borrowing costs and fiscal space. Strengthening African-led alternatives is therefore not only a technical priority but a strategic one, linked to broader questions of economic sovereignty and fairness.
The engagement also explored opportunities for collaboration around the APRM Youth Symposium and the Africa Governance Report 2027 (AGR 2027). Both platforms highlight the importance of ensuring that governance systems reflect Africa’s demographic realities. With a rapidly growing youth population, policy processes must increasingly incorporate the perspectives and leadership of young people. This is essential not only for inclusion but for the legitimacy and effectiveness of governance frameworks going forward.
For DR, these discussions align closely with our wider work on reframing global narratives and supporting policy approaches that are grounded in African priorities. Effective governance is not simply about institutional design. It is about ensuring that systems respond to lived realities while enabling long term development outcomes.
Development Reimagined looks forward to continuing this engagement with the African Peer Review Mechanism and other continental partners. Strengthening African-led governance and financial systems will be critical to shaping a more equitable and resilient development path for the continent.
