This page provides answers to most commonly asked questions

What is the NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA)?

The Non-Governmental Organizations Regulatory Authority is a Statutory Corporation established under Section 6 of NGO (Amendment) Act Cap (5:05) of the Laws of Malawi with the mandate to register and regulate operations of NGOs in the country.

Why is NGO Registration Important?

It is mandated by law, that each and every NGO operating in Malawi must be registered with NGORA. In addition, there are several other benefits of registration including:

  1. Gives NGOs legitimacy and credibility
  2. Provides the leverage of tax exemptions on some goods and items after clearance by NGORA
  3. Creates donor confidence
  4. Shows transparency and accountability of NGOs
  5. Gives NGOs the ability to bring expertise from outside
  6. Provides opportunities for collaboration with different stakeholders

Who are Stakeholders of NGORA?

These are the entities that have an influence on the activities of NGORA:

  1. Government
  2. The Public
  3. The Donor Community
  4. Local and International NGOs

How long does it take to get registered by NGORA after submission of all the relevant documents?

Registration takes 14 working days if there are no errors on the documents submitted. If the documents contain errors, then the process may take longer.

What procedures should an organisation follow to register with NGORA?

To register, an organization must complete an online registration form using myNGO platform. Registration is strictly online and credentials for accessing the system should be requested through email to bmphika@ngora.mw or +265 884 462808.

Which Non-Profit Organizations are supposed to register with NGORA?

Non-Profit organizations which solicit funds for public benefit.

What are some of the reasons to withhold, suspend and cancel registration of an NGO

An NGO which fails or refuses to comply with the NGO Act or any rules or Regulations may have its registration withheld, suspended or canceled by the Authority. The Authority shall however give the NGO an opportunity to be heard before taking action.

What should an NGO that needs to have the decision to deny registration or to be removed from the register reviewed do?

An NGO which is aggrieved by the Authority’s decision to refuse its registration or its removal from the register may appeal to the High Court for review of the decision. The appeal should take place within 30 days from the date the Authority gives the NGO notice of refusal or removal.

What procedures should be followed to close/de-register an NGO?

An NGO intending to cease operations must formally write the Authority and inform it about the decision. The letter should be accompanied by the following:

  1. A resolution of the board of trustees on the permanent closure of operations
  2. A report on the operations undertaken during the year and
  3. A schedule of the disposal of assets

The Authority will then issue a certificate of closure.

What Procedures should NGOs that are merging follow?

NGOs intending to merge should de-register one of the NGOs in the merger.

The newly merged NGO should then submit an application with the following details to NGORA:

a. The name of the new NGO and,

b. A list of Board of Trustees for the new NGO

What fees are payable NGORA?

There are two kinds of fees payable to NGORA;

1. Registration Fee is MK250,000 for both local and international NGOs which is payable once upon registration. The replacement fee for a lost or damaged registration certificate is MK50,000

2. Annual license fees. These depend on the Organizations annual income.

Organisations whose annual income is:

a. Below MK100 million pay MK100,000

b. From MK100 million – MK500 million the fee is MK250,000

c. From MK500 million – MK2 billion the fee is MK1 million

d. Above MK2 billion the fee is MK2 million

Where are NGORA Offices?

The Headquarters for NGORA are behind Lingadzi Inn, Next to MASM Clinic, Lilongwe, Malawi.

For district offices, visit the district council offices and they will provide guidance on where to find our offices

When is an NGO supposed to submit its reports to NGORA?

Six Months upon completion of the Financial Year.

How different is NGORA from CONGOMA ?

NGORA is a regulator of NGOs while CONGOMA is a Coordinating Body of NGOs

How do I Register an NGO on myNGO?

  1. Go to myNGO
  2. Sign in with user credentials
  3. Go to Registration>Registration
  4. Click the Register button
  5. Provide the necessary details under the various sections of the registration form:
  • Details: Basic details about the NGO
  • Coverage: Sectors the NGO is engaged in and locations where the NGO is operating
  • Governance: Persons who are involved in the administration of the NGO
  • Accounting: Financial information about the NGO
  • TEP: Apply for TEP processing certificates. This section is optional
  • Document: Mandatory registration documents
  1. To save as draft, click the Draft button
  2. To submit the form, click the Submit button

How do I renew my annual Licence/ submit Annual Returns?

  1. Go to myNGO
  2. Sign in with user credentials
  3. Go to Licensing>License Renewals
  4. Click the Request License button
  5. Update the NGO details under the various section of the annual return form:
  • Details: Basic details about the NGO
  • Coverage: Sectors the NGO is engaged in and locations where the NGO is operating
  • Governance: Persons who are involved in the administration of the NGO
  • Accounting: Financial information about the NGO
  • TEP: Apply for TEP processing certificates. This section is optional.
  • Document: Mandatory registration documents
  1. To save as draft, click the Draft button
  2. To submit the form, click the Submit button

How do I Request for TEP Processing Certificate?

  1. Go to myNGO
  2. Sign in with user credentials
  3. Go to TEP>TEP Requests
  4. Click the Request TEP button
  5. Provide the necessary details:
  • TEP Fee Proof of Payment: Proof of payment for the request
  • Full name: Full name of the applicant
  • Nationality: Nationality of the applicant
  • Passport Number: Passport number of the applicant
  1. To add more applicants, click the Plus button
  2. To save as draft, click the Draft button
  3. To submit the request, click the Request button

How do I lodge a complaint on myNGO?

  1. Go to myNGO
  2. Sign in with user credentials
  3. Go to Case Management>Complaints
  4. Click the Lodge Complaint button
  5. Provide the necessary details:
  • Lodge Anonymously: To lodge the complaint anonymously turn on this switch
  • Summary: Brief summary of the complaint
  • Complaint Against: Who the complaint is against
  • Entity Not Registered: If the complaint is against an unregistered organization or an individual, turn on this switch and enter the name of the entity
  • Category: Category which best describes this complaint
  • Details: Full details of the complaint
  • Supporting Document: Any relevant document to support the complaint
  1. To lodge the complaint, click the Lodge button

Have any questions not listed above ? Contact Us