Non-Governmental Organisation Unit

The Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Unit was established within the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services in May 2013 with the mandate to manage the Ministry’s relationship with service delivery partners involved in the delivery of social services to communities.

The core functions of this Unit are to:

• Identify suitable organisations to undertake the delivery of services or the conduct of social programmes and projects;
• Manage contractual arrangements with organisations for the delivery of social services and programmes;
• Register organisations involved in the delivery of social services;
• Collaborate with relevant social service delivery agencies and divisions to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of services;
• Process and assess requests from organisations for subventions, grants and other types of assistance and making appropriate recommendations;
• Ensure compliance by organisations in accordance with established criteria for the delivery of social services;
• Develop mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the operations of NGOs and other organisations in receipt of financial assistance;
• Conduct research into matters pertaining to the non-governmental sector in order to advise State agencies on the operations of various NGOs;
• Promote training and capacity building programmes for NGOs so that they would be better equipped to serve the delivery mandate; and
• Maintain an NGO database.

 

Financial Assistance

The MSDFS provides financial assistance to NGOS via three main forms. These include:

1. Subventions –A subvention is funds provided to an NGO to assist in the operation of a particular social development programme.

Requirements:

• Registration with the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs. NGOs must also be operating for at least one (1) year
• The service/programme must not be funded by another entity for the same expenditure
• NGOs must be able to show evidence of being able to meet at least 40% of the operating budget
• Proof of dedicated bank account for subvention
• Disclosure of other Bank Accounts
• Previous year’s External Audited Financial Statements
• Listing of current Executive Board Members
• Collection of an application package

 Funding is limited to Cabinet approval 

• One-Off Grants (Over $10,000.00)

This is a one-time payment to an NGO to assist in the execution of a particular social development project.

Requirements:

• Registration with the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs. NGOs must also be operating for at least one (1) year
• The service/programme must coincide with the mandate of the Ministry and not be funded by another entity for the same expenditure
• NGOs must be able to show evidence of being able to meet at least 40% of the operating budget
• Proof of a dedicated business bank account
• Previous year’s External Audited Financial Statements
• Project Plan
• Listing of current Executive Board Members
• Completion of Application

 Funding

• Based on MSDFS Weighing Scale and
• Less than $50,000.00

 

• One-Off Grants ($10,000.00 and Under)

Financial Assistance towards a social development project. These projects usually coincide with National Festivals and school vacation periods.

 Requirements:

• Organizations must be registered with the Ministry of Legal Affairs and or other Ministries
• Project proposal
• Budget (must include information on other donors)

Funding

• Based on MSDFS Weighing Scale
• Up to a maximum of $10,000.00
• May only be accessed twice per annum
• Must provide invoices from suppliers to process approved funds