The threat hanging over 330 NGOs is now reaching beyond boardrooms, with workers fearing they could be the ones to pay the price if their organisations are sanctioned.
For many employees, losing their jobs would mean more than missing a salary. It could disrupt school fees, family support and other daily needs.
That sense of security is now under pressure after the NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA) warned that 330 NGOs could face fines, suspension of operations or possible deregistration for failing to submit mandatory reports.
NGORA says 1,060 registered NGOs were expected to submit reports in line with the NGO Reporting Regulations, but only 730 complied, leaving nearly 31 percent of registered organisations in default.
While the Authority has not specified the penalties that each organisation will face, the possibility of suspension or deregistration has raised concerns about what could happen to employees whose livelihoods depend on the affected organisations.
For workers, the uncertainty is not simply about losing employment. It could mean families struggling to pay rent, children missing school fees and households losing access to income that supports food and other basic needs.
“I am worried because this is where I get my income to support my family. If the organisation is suspended, I do not know what will happen to us,” said one NGO employee, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the matter.
The employee said workers often have little control over administrative and regulatory matters, yet they could bear the consequences if an organisation fails to meet its obligations.
The potential impact extends beyond employees. NGOs employ programme officers, finance personnel, drivers, field workers, support staff and consultants, while thousands of people in communities depend on their projects and services.
The organisations named by NGORA include some of the country’s well-known institutions working in health, governance, human rights, environment, development and other sectors.
Among them are the Anglican Council in Malawi, Consumers Association of Malawi, Human Rights Defenders Coalition, Public Affairs Committee, Malawi Health Equity Network, Media Council of Malawi, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Oxfam GB in Malawi, PATH and Feed the Children-Malawi.
For employees of such organisations, the uncertainty comes at a time when many families are already dealing with rising living costs and limited employment opportunities.
An NGO sector expert said regulatory compliance was important because organisations receiving funds to serve communities must be accountable, but enforcement should also consider the potential effects on employees and beneficiaries.
NGORA has said it will take legally binding measures against all organisations that remain non-compliant.
The challenge now is whether the affected NGOs will regularise their status before sanctions are imposed, and whether those measures can be implemented without leaving workers and the communities they serve carrying the heaviest burden.
Behind NGORA’s figure of 330 non-compliant organisations are therefore thousands of workers whose livelihoods could be affected by decisions over which they may have little control.
For many employees, losing their jobs would mean more than missing a salary. It could disrupt school fees, family support and other daily needs.
That sense of security is now under pressure after the NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA) warned that 330 NGOs could face fines, suspension of operations or possible deregistration for failing to submit mandatory reports.
NGORA says 1,060 registered NGOs were expected to submit reports in line with the NGO Reporting Regulations, but only 730 complied, leaving nearly 31 percent of registered organisations in default.
While the Authority has not specified the penalties that each organisation will face, the possibility of suspension or deregistration has raised concerns about what could happen to employees whose livelihoods depend on the affected organisations.
For workers, the uncertainty is not simply about losing employment. It could mean families struggling to pay rent, children missing school fees and households losing access to income that supports food and other basic needs.
“I am worried because this is where I get my income to support my family. If the organisation is suspended, I do not know what will happen to us,” said one NGO employee, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the matter.
The employee said workers often have little control over administrative and regulatory matters, yet they could bear the consequences if an organisation fails to meet its obligations.
The potential impact extends beyond employees. NGOs employ programme officers, finance personnel, drivers, field workers, support staff and consultants, while thousands of people in communities depend on their projects and services.
The organisations named by NGORA include some of the country’s well-known institutions working in health, governance, human rights, environment, development and other sectors.
Among them are the Anglican Council in Malawi, Consumers Association of Malawi, Human Rights Defenders Coalition, Public Affairs Committee, Malawi Health Equity Network, Media Council of Malawi, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Oxfam GB in Malawi, PATH and Feed the Children-Malawi.
For employees of such organisations, the uncertainty comes at a time when many families are already dealing with rising living costs and limited employment opportunities.
An NGO sector expert said regulatory compliance was important because organisations receiving funds to serve communities must be accountable, but enforcement should also consider the potential effects on employees and beneficiaries.
NGORA has said it will take legally binding measures against all organisations that remain non-compliant.
The challenge now is whether the affected NGOs will regularise their status before sanctions are imposed, and whether those measures can be implemented without leaving workers and the communities they serve carrying the heaviest burden.
Behind NGORA’s figure of 330 non-compliant organisations are therefore thousands of workers whose livelihoods could be affected by decisions over which they may have little control.
