By Isaac Salima:
President Lazarus Chakwera has called on local organisations to take charge of the country’s development agenda.
The President believes that local actors are key to addressing local challenges.
He said such efforts could lead to expedited attainment of Malawi 2063 goals.
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Chakwera said this Wednesday at Sanjika Palace ground in Blantyre, where he presided over activities marking this year’s Non-governmental Organisations (NGO) Day.
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“I also wish to reiterate my government’s unwavering commitment to the localisation agenda. We believe that 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,” Chakwera said.
He said it was for that reason that the government had been prioritising efforts to support local organisations for them to thrive in the country.
Chakwera said, this year, the government established an NGO Fund aimed at building the capacity of local organisations.
“My government, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, has funded Ngora [Non-Governmental Organisations Regulatory Authority] with K1 billion for the operationalisation of the NGO Fund in the 2024-25 financial year.
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“The Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare launched the NGO Fund on 5th August 2024 in Blantyre. The NGO Fund specifically aims at building the capacity of NGOs in the country. Call for proposals was advertised in July 2024. Currently, applications are under review. Financing of successful applicants will start in November 2024,” he said.
The President further said his government was still assessing the management of foreign exchange among NGOs.
“On the part of assessment of NGO forex management, the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare and Ngora, in collaboration with the Reserve Bank of Malawi, are assessing forex management within the NGO sector. As part of the assessment, NGOs are being engaged to provide more information on how they utilise the forex that they receive from their financiers. I, therefore, look forward to a report on the findings of the assessment in due course,” he said.
Chakwera has since assured the organisations that the government remains committed to creating a conducive environment for development cooperation.
“I am glad that the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare is reviewing the NGO Policy of 2019. The review will ensure that all emerging issues, and the various reforms which have surfaced over the years, are taken on board in the successor NGO Policy, thereby creating a more supportive environment for NGOs in the country,” he said.
In her remarks, NGO Board Chairperson Innocentia Ottober called for collaboration when implementing development activities.
“Coordination is key as it will prevent duplication of efforts and ensure that resources are channelled where needed,” she said.
On her part, Gender Minister Jean Sendeza said the government was committed to providing an enabling environment to NGO so that they could ably complement the government’s efforts in driving socio-economic change.
At the event, Chakwera also launched the 2024 NGO Sector Report.
The country started commemorating the day last year.
This year’s event is being celebrated under the theme ‘Strengthening Partnership and Capacity in The NGO Sector: Panacea for Achieving Malawi 2063’.
Over 100 NGO attended the event, with some showcasing their initiatives through pavilions that were displayed.
