The NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA) has announced the establishment of an NGO Fund worth 1 billion Malawi Kwacha to bolster sectoral strength.
The announcement was made by the CEO of NGORA Edward Chileka-Banda this morning during a breakfast meeting at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre. In his statement, the CEO said the establishment of the fund follows a directive from President Lazurus Chakwera during the NGO Day in December, 2023.
“His Excellency, Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, directed NGORA to institute a comprehensive capacity-building program for the sector.
This NGO fund, has been sourced from government subvention and NGO fees, and aims to create an enabling environment for NGO operations in Malawi. The fund will promote the localization agenda and also be used to build institutional capacity of NGOs that will include systems strengthening and compliance to the NGO Act and Policy,” he said.
The fund will also be used to enhance financial and institutional sustainability, foster Government-NGO partnerships, provide seed funding to selected NGOs, and empower potential CBOs to transition into NGOs. Upon completion of the necessary procedures, eligible NGOs will be invited to apply for the fund.
The Authority further announced that there is an uptick in registration and license renewals following the communication in January by NGORA that only registered NGOs with a valid license will be allowed to operate in the country.
“NGORA is pleased to announce that following our communication in January, 463 NGOs have obtained valid licenses for 2024, compared to only 199 NGOs around the same time last year. This is a huge increase and underscores the sector’s commitment to compliance with regulations,” he said.
NGORA had registered 19 NGOs between January and March 2023, whilst 33 NGOs have been registered during the same period in 2024. The Authority also announced that non-compliant NGOs shall be sanctioned according to stipulations in the NGO Act.