This DPMF e-NewsForum or electronic newsletter comes out every two months, its main purpose being to: --Exchange information on issues of interest to the three constituencies of the DPMF Network- i.e. Policy Makers, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Researchers/Lecturers/Scholars; --Make relevant information and data of interest available, and easily accessible, to members of the DPMF Network; --Introduce online discussions on current issues of concern to the three constituencies of DPMF as interactions through the forum intensify.

Since its inception in March 1995, DPMF has carried out important activities focusing on (a) democratic governance and the national process of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), (b) Governance and Regional Integration, and (c) Pre-Civil War small scale conflicts and peace-building, (d) strengthening conceptual and knowledge capacity of senior policy makers and CSO leaders on critical issues related to democratic governance. And now we are expanding our research themes to included policies on gender and social policies. DPMF has created and is rapidly expanding a pan-African network of concerned individuals and institutions with committed interest in the above areas in order to enable African countries to face the challenges of development, the reconstruction process in post-conflict countries, and to be involved in the African renaissance.

DPMF's fundamental objective is to deepen and institutionalize democratic governance in African countries. Its constituency combines three major categories ? (a) policymakers and managers, (b) civil society leaders and (c) researchers. These three categories constitute major actors in society, each with its own perspective of the challenges, opportunities and constraints in the areas of concern and activities of DPMF. By bringing these three categories of people together to interface, to discuss and exchange their perspectives and experiences, it is hoped that this process will result in a deeper understanding of the evolution, complexity, and policy implication of the issues of concern and that this will consequently help African governments. Hence capacity at a more substantive level is thus enhanced ? amongst the three categories. This capacity based on substantive research findings goes beyond mere understanding. It includes discussions of strategies and policy options for deepening democratic governance and other policy areas.

Your collaboration and active participation in the Network through this electronic newsletter will be highly appreciated