The Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza has said NGOs are significant in achieving Malawi 2063. She made the remarks at the NGO Accountability Conference 2023 in Mangochi.
Sendeza said NGOs raise awareness and hold various stakeholders accountable for their commitment to Malawi 2063.
“Your diverse roles significantly contribute to the progress of the development of the country. Let me therefore assure all of you that the government is committed to working with you [NGOs] to promote the livelihood of Malawians at all levels,” she said.
She then said this year’s Accountability Conference theme highlights the importance of governance, which is crucial in any organisation, community or nation.
“At its core, governance is about leadership and accountability and how we manage our affairs especially in our organisations. Accountability means taking ownership of our actions and decisions, whether they result in success or failure,” she said.
The minister further said, she is pleased with the increase in NGO annual report submission, saying this shows that they are in the right track towards achieving good corporate governance.
In her remarks United Nations Resident Coordinator, Rebecca Adda-Dontoh acknowledged the role played by NGOs in advancing development of the country in various sectors.
“I particularly appreciate the commitment and dedication shown by the NGO community during the Tropical Cyclone Freddy response and recovery efforts,” she said.
Adda-Dontoh added that accountability starts with self-reflection, saying as leaders of NGOs they must be willing to hold their organisations to the highest standards of transparency, ethics and governance.
This year’s Accountability Conference was held under the theme ‘21st Century Boardroom Dynamics: Repositioning Accountability of NGOs.’