"For several years now, the FAO-Dimitra project has been supporting community listeners’ clubs (CLC), which facilitate a process for strengthening rural communities, with a special focus on women’s leadership. At this stage in the project’s progress, we think it is necessary to take the time to capitalize on several years of experience with the clubs. So included with this newsletter is a fact sheet describing the key features that make the Dimitra community listeners’ clubs a unique approach. You will also find in this issue a dossier which outlines the impact of the CLCs in the Orientale Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A listeners’ club forum in Isangi, which brought together members of 60 listeners’ clubs in the Province, offers a starting point to examine the results obtained. Marguerite Atilomoi, a young woman leader from Orientale Province, was chosen to feature in this issue’s Portraits Series. Marguerite is the moderator of a Dimitra community listeners’ club, and also serves on the Board of a local producer organization and is Vice-President of the Producers Union for her area. Several articles describe the launch of new clubs in Mauritania, Niger and Senegal with FAO’s regional Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM) programme, as well as in Ghana." (Editorial, page 2)