Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza has commended Non-Governmental Organisations Regulatory Authority (Ngora) for empowering NGOs with funds to implement their activities smoothly.
She said this on Wednesday in Nsanje during the presentation of cheques to two local NGOs.
Speaking after the cheque presentation attended by Nsanje District Council and Council for Non-Governmental Organisations in Malawi (Congoma) attended, Sendeza said about 27 NGOs from the country’s 28 districts will benefit.
She said: “This is a great milestone since NGO will be quipped and will do everything in the manner they needed to do.
“We chose Nsanje District
start the disbursement of the NGO Fund due to challenges citizens are facing here such as food shortage which is at 37 percent, malnutrition about 40 percent, surpassing the nation rate of 38 percent. We need NGOs to be accountable and comply with Ngora. requirements”
However, Sendeza asked Ngora to undertake a learning
visit to Rwanda to appreciate how NGOs in that country are using such funds to improve the lives of ultra-poor families.
The minister said NGOs last year brought about K600 billion in the country but there was little to show for its impact on the ground.
On her part, Ngora board chairperson Innoncia Ottober said they expect NGOs to improve their financial systems and procurement.
She urged NGOs to establish board of trustees to enhance corporate governance.
On the criteria they used to identify beneficiary NGOs, Ottober said they selected organisations which had audited accounts.
Congoma executive director Ronald Mtonga said the fund will help them train many NGOs on their work.
Speaking on behalf of Nsanje District Council, councillor Andrew Piriminta thanked the ministry for choosing the district to start disbursing the fund.
