NGORA Applauds NGOs for Improved Compliance with Operational Regulations

The Chief Executive Officer of the Non-Governmental Organizations Regulatory Authority (NGORA), Edward Chileka Banda, has commended NGOs for their notable improvement in adhering to operational regulations and the NGO Act.

Speaking in Mzuzu on Friday during a presentation to NGOs from the northern region, Banda revealed that 350 NGOs had successfully renewed their licenses in the past quarter, based on their annual reports—an encouraging increase in compliance compared to previous years.

“We are pleased with the progress. This marks a significant shift from previous years where compliance was low. The licenses are granted based on the submission of required reports, and we are still processing more applications,” Banda said. “These reports cover sources and amounts of funding, the nature of activities being implemented, and areas of operation.”

He emphasized that ensuring NGOs deliver tangible benefits to communities is central to NGORA’s regulatory mission, adding that accurate reporting is crucial for monitoring impact and preventing misuse of donor resources.

“There have been instances in the past where some NGOs abused donor funds, leading to complaints from donors. We aim to eliminate such malpractice through stringent monitoring,” Banda said.

On regulatory updates, Banda disclosed that NGORA has introduced new operational regulations for international NGOs, which have already been gazetted.

“One key provision requires international NGOs to allocate at least 30 percent of their funding through local organizations. This aims to strengthen local capacity and ensure sustainability of projects,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Executive Director for Youth Watch Society, Muteyu Banda, praised the meeting as crucial, not only for updates from NGORA but also for fostering transparency and accountability among NGOs.

Muteyu Banda questioned the absence of certain NGOs, particularly those active in press briefings and demonstrations, from such important forums.

“It’s essential for all NGOs to operate within the legal framework. The current regulations do not shrink civil space but rather ensure accountability. We must continue to hold each other accountable,” he said.