By Beatrice Bangula

Blantyre, October 10, Mana: Non-Governmental Organization Regulatory Authority (NGORA) in collaboration with Council for Non-Governmental Organizations in Malawi (CONGOMA) and the Ministry of Gender has organized sectoral workshops for NGOs aimed at laying the foundation for commemoration of 2024 NGOs Day.

The engagements focusing on three thematic areas of education, agriculture and health will take place from Wednesday October 9 – 11 in Blantyre. The NGO Day will be observed on October 16 at Sanjika Palace Mini Stadium.

Chief Executive Officer for NGORA, Edward Chileka Banda said the workshops have been organized so that NGOs and government should align with each other and look at policy gaps for a more elaborate service delivery.

“We need to look at outstanding issues that need to be addressed in education sector,” Chileka Banda said.

“NGOs are making enormous contributions towards improved access to education services in all communities in this country. However, the contributions are not properly captured or documented and sometimes there is lack of collaboration between NGOs and government. This poses a policy alignment challenge,” he added.

Chileka Banda said NGORA would like to bring all resources together and move forward for the development of the country.

“We are tired of having similar challenges year in, year out and we are looking at the contributions NGOs are making, it will be very important now to see NGOs working closely with government, “he said.

Presidential Advisor on NGOs, Martha Kwataine said the workshops were very crucial because President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera recognizes the work being carried out by NGOs in Malawi.

“From the perspective of President Chakwera, the workshops are very important; specifically today as we are looking at the education sector. Education is the only equalizer that we can have as a nation, so whether rich or poor, if one is educated is equalized and is on the same table of decision making.

“Even when you look at it from the office of the First Lady through her Shaping the Future Foundation, there is that passion from the President in the sense that scholarships have been provided to the girl child,” Kwataine said.

Senior Development Planning Specialist for the National Planning Commission (NPC), Ivy Chauya said the NPC has a keen interest in the various developmental programmes and their implementation strategies; hence, would always support initiatives which would contribute to national development.

“It is our wish to see different NGOs working with government in the fulfilment of the Malawi 2063 Vision. The NPC is mandated to coordinate and oversee the implementation of long term and medium term development plans; education being a key in that respect,” Chauya said.     

The theme for this year's NGO Day is ‘strengthening partnerships and capacity in the NGO sector-panacea for achieving Malawi 2063 Agenda.’