09 Dec 2013

Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Mr Edwin Batshu has said the revised Non-Governmental Organisations policy aims to promote overall efficiency effectiveness in service delivery and resource use within the NGO’s.

Presenting the NGO policy to Parliament, minister Batshu said the need for an NGO policy is of paramount importance in order to strengthen the effectiveness of the NGO’s in formulation and implementation of government policies and their responsiveness to the needs of the marginalised and disadvantaged people.

He explained that the NGO policy was developed and approved by cabinet in 2004 through Presidential Directive CAB 8(b)/2004 and seeks to provide a framework to guide a fruitful relationship between NGO and government.

The policy, he said is in line with Vision 2016 which states that NGOs play an important role in the development process, and their existing foundation and experiences should be harnessed for their successful implementation of the vision strategies.

“Government’s commitment to work with NGOs is also in Vision 2016 which states that NGOs are playing an important role in the development process, and their existing foundation and experiences should be harnessed for the future implementation of the Vision’s strategies. 

Their capacities should be strengthened as key partners in development, to effectively compliment both government and private sector activities,” said Mr Batshu. The policy, he said recognises that NGOs are diverse and there is a need to assist them to realise their diverse interests and functions in the community.

He said the National NGO policy, provides for a coordinated approach in the implementation of National Development Plans by collaborating with NGOs in providing services to the general population in areas where NGOs have a comparative advantage.

Mr Batshu said it must be noted that NGOs in the country continue to experience challenges with regard to financial sustainability due to a decline in external donor support hence making it difficult for them to deliver effectively on their mandate.

He said government has therefore in order to facilitate programmes implemented by the NGOs to benefit communities, entered into a financial agreement with the European Union (EDF10) for funding a grant scheme targeting specific priority sectors of corporation being education, social services, environment, gender as well as arts and culture. ENDS