Empowering Civil Society: Supporting Independent National Forums

In most African countries, the one-party ?political culture? is still exercising powerful influence. Hence there are few open formal or informal channels of communication and discussion between the civil servants and civil society groups.

The National Policy Forums are designed to provide the kind of open and democratic forum for discussions of policies and the policy process between the civil servants, politicians and civil society groups. They will have the following objectives:

Firstly they will provide an arena for dialogue - a market place of ideas - amongst the major actors involved in and concerned with national policy in order to discuss policy issues and the policy management process; and

Secondly the forums will provide specific channels of dialogue between the civil servants and civil society on the one hand, and between civil servants and politicians on the other.

A National Policy Forum would ideally have the following characteristics:

It will be an independent group of about 20 members.
Members of the National Policy Forum would be well known personalities who are committed and respected. They would be invited to the Forum in their personal capacity.
A National Policy Forum would be based at any of the national institutions such as a Civil Service College, Management Institute, PAI or a University.
DPMF will help set up National Policy Forum especially the first meeting of the Forum. Beyond that each Forum is expected to sustain itself and carry out its activities independent of the DPMF Secretariat. DPMF will monitor the progress and give support whenever requested.
DPMF will work with identified individuals/institution to encourage the emergence and development of National Policy Forums. These Forums are expected to meet regularly to debate and discuss issues and develop a culture of dialogue and consensus in decision making.

It is planned to establish four such independent national forums during the two years 2001 and 2002. In 2001 it is planned to establish 2 forums in Tanzania and Botswana.

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