NGORA reiterates that registration is to protect NGOs from being involved or targeted by risk activities

NGORA Chief Executive Officer, Edward Chileka-Banda

* As the regulator appeals to the NGOs to comply with the law of getting a registration certificate

* The directive is a follow up to the public notice and several communications that NGORA has been making

By Pickson Chipeso & Pempho Kantayeni (MANA)

Non-Governmental Organisation Regulatory Authority (NGORA) has reminded NGOs to observe laws and have themselves registered, saying operating without a registration certificate is illegal.

Speaking yesterday at a press briefing at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, NGORA Chief Executive Officer, Edward Chileka-Banda emphasised that NGOs need to register before starting operations in Malawi.

He reiterated that getting registered is meant to protect the NGOs and the community from being involved or targeted by risk activities — hence the need to ensure that NGOs are operating legally in the country.

The directive is a follow up to the public notice and several communications that NGORA made and Chileka-Banda said once NGOs are registered, it is required of them to submit annual reports to the Authority.

“So, by not registering and not submitting reports, it becomes hard for the Government to ascertain accountability and transparency and sometimes it may be difficult to monitor operations of NGOs and ensure that they do not cause any harm to communities,” he said.

“These reports are meant to appreciate NGO activities, their impact on society and any challenges they may face so that government should create an enabling environment for them to conduct their operations.”

According to Chileka-Banda, about 344 NGOs are operating without valid licenses, 173 without registration certificates while 419 have failed to submit their annual reports and NGORA has set a compliance deadline of December 31, 2024 for all NGOs that have not met the legal requirements.

Non-compliance will result in enforcement actions, including potential suspension of operations.

At the commemoration of NGO Day at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre last month, President Lazarus Chakwera applauded the NGOs and all other development stakeholders who continue to support a vision for a better Malawi.

Celebrated under the theme; ‘Strengthening Partnerships and Capacity in the NGO Sector: Panacea for Achieving MW2063 Agenda’, the President said the NGOs’ “dedication to service and partnership is invaluable to the achievement of the MW2063 national development agenda”.

“Together, we will build a stronger, more prosperous Malawi, leaving no one behind,” he said. “Without partnerships and enhanced capacity among all actors including NGOs, progress shall be slow against our wishes.

“We must be deliberate in fostering effective collaborations and double our efforts towards capacity building for the NGOs and the beneficiary communities.”

The commemoration of the day preceded three sectoral workshops which NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA) hosted at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre, organised in collaboration with Council of NGOs in Malawi (CONGOMA) and the Ministry of Gender & Social Welfare.

The workshops were in three parts, focusing on NGOs that deal in education on the first day, October 9; health on October 10 and agriculture on October 11.

And it followed last year’s event in Lilongwe where a 2023 NGO Sector Report was also launched, which highlighted some serious challenges the sector was experiencing, which prompted President Chakwera to direct the Ministry of Gender, Community Development & Social Welfare and NGORA to work out how the sector could be capacitated.

In recognising the important role that NGOs play, the government factored the NGO Fund in its 2024/25 National Budget, which Parliament passed pegged at K1 billion.

Following several strides the sector has made in the past year, Chakwera said he was “pleased to note the remarkable progress that has indeed been made to date, particularly in the area of NGO compliance and accountability”.

“Statistics in line with this speak for themselves,” he said. “In 2023, we had 77 NGOs registered under the NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA). I am proud to report that, this year (2024), this number has more than doubled to 148.

“This demonstrates the growing formalisation and accountability which has been put in place within the NGO sector. Further, I am delighted to hear that the number of NGOs submitting their annual reports has also increased from 432 in 2023 to 498 this year (2024), and that those renewing their annual licenses, the number has grown from 481 to 604.

“These statistics show that the NGO sector is not only growing in size but also in its commitment to transparency and responsible governance.

“I, therefore, commend all NGOs for their efforts in this regard and I wish to encourage them to continue collaborating with NGORA to ensure that the collective impact is felt even more strongly across the country.”

Chakwera thus reiterated his administration’s “unwavering commitment to the localisation agenda” saying “sustainable development must be driven by local actors who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of their communities”.

“By building local capacity, we empower Malawians to take charge of their own development, fostering resilience and long-term success. The localisation agenda is not just a policy directive — it is a national imperative.

“The goal of the national development agenda, the MW2063 cannot be achieved without strong local organisations that are capable of delivering services, advocating for communities, and leading innovative initiatives.

“This is why we are prioritising efforts to support local NGOs and create an enabling environment for them to thrive.”—Additional reporting by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express