27 Oct 2013

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have been advised to affiliate to their mother bodies.

Speaking at the NGOs Council visibility workshop in Francistown on Friday, October 25, a member of the council, Ms Peggie Ramaphane implored the organisations to affiliate to Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) and Botswana Community Based Organisations Network (BOCOBONET).

Ms Ramaphane said affiliating to the mother bodies would ensure their one voice reached the council. She said although NGOs were on one hand faced with a number of challenges such as lack of human resources and funds,  on the other,  they were incapable of managing resources

Ms Ramaphane said in some trusts, there was misuse of resources to the extent that some committee members used the organisations’ property as if it was their own. She encouraged NGOs to be accountable and manage their resources prudently. She encouraged NGOs not be dependent on the government and private sector for funding but engage in income generating activities.

The deputy chairperson of the council, who is also the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Kelebogile Kgabi, said the council was formed in line with the National NGO Policy. She said the council advises the government on the implementation of the national policy on NGOs and is made up of 14 members, representing government, NGOs and BOCCIM.

Ms Kgabi said the council’s objectives were based on the Vision 2016 pillars because the government recognises a role played by NGOs in the development of the country. The NGOs coordinator Mr Michael Mokgautsi, said the National NGO Policy was aimed at promoting partnerships and collaboration between NGOs, the government, private sector and other stakeholders and to promote mobilization and utilisation of resources between key stakeholders in the national development.

Ms Catherine Matongo, the project officer of European Development Fund 10 (EDF 10) said P80 million was availed through EDF 10 to contribute to economic growth promotion and poverty reduction. She said the funds were to be used in a three year period effective December 2012 and starting next year, there will be a call of proposals from NGOs on how they intend to utilise the funds to develop their communities.

A project officer in the EDF 10 Empowerment of NSAs, Ms Christinah Motshwaedi, said the workshop was aimed at sensitising NGOs on the existence of the council and its mandate and to know the expectation of the NGOs regarding the council.

During questions and comments one of the participants, Mr Never Lenyatso, called for coordination of trusts in order to avoid duplication of efforts. He cited that there are cases where neighbouring villages have trusts that are both aimed at conserving the same resource.

Mr Lenyatso said if there was coordination, the trusts could be encouraged to unite to avoid duplication of efforts especially that some villages are only five kilometres apart. ENDS