Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA) hosted a consultative meeting between high-ranking officials of the newly established Charities and Societies Agency (CSA) and taskforce of Civil Society (CS) on draft directive that stipulates the re-registration of consortium of charities/societies on December 30, 2009.

Ato Ali Siraj, Director General of CSA and his Deputy, Ato Atakliti Gidey, gave clarifications on the new directive under preparation as well as the modalities that govern NGOs to form a membership-based union, network or consortium of charities/societies and re-register accordingly.

The officials noted that the draft directive/regulation is prepared to determine particulars of forming charities which is pursuant to article 15:3 of Proclamation No. 621/2008 issued in the Negarit Gazeta on 13 February 2009. The officials noted should there become any contextual contradictions between the two, the proclamation would prevail.

They said the consultative meeting was organized with a view to gathering valuable inputs from the taskforce in a bid to enrich and refine the draft directive before it is coming into force.

They said the Proclamation gave a space for any member of the civil society to form union, association, network, forum or any kind of NGOs/CSOs consortium to better realize their commonly-shared goals and coordinate their strategic activities, and thereby enhancing their contribution to the development endeavors and democratization process of the country.

The Directive contains certain provisions including the underling objectives, prerequisites for establishment, conditions that need be included in the by-laws of the consortiums, organizational structure and membership, conditions that prohibit the establishment of the same, among others.

The officials presented basic requirements and added that a charity /association re-registered as a union, network or consortium of charity or association may not become direct implementer of a given program or project but can play a facilitative role in enhancing its affiliate members’ engagements in the development endeavors in response to the dire needs of the beneficial community.

According to the officials, any member of civil society can be reregistered as network of network charity/association provided that there is compelling condition to adopt and form such a structure.

The officials pledged that they would remain committed to render the necessary supports for any member of the civil society determined to be re-registered with the Agency and get a legal recognition as a union, consortium or network organization, till the expiry date of the re-registration, Yekatit 6, 2002 ( February 13, 2010).

Representatives of the task force have posed various questions and concerns on the draft directive. The officials considered the inputs collected from the consultative session and elaborately addressed the questions raised.

In the course of the consultative meeting, the officials disclosed that the Agency has re-registered 1200 local and foreign based charities and societies falling under different categories till December 31st, 2009 alone.

“We have witnessed a smooth conduct of the re-registration process till now” they said. They also seized the occasion to call upon unregistered organizations to be re-registered before the time is over due.

It is learnt that well over 3500 NGOs have been registered by the Ministry of Justice and operating in the country over the past years.

Members of the CS Taskforce which include CRDA, CORHA, BEA-E, EIFDDA, FSS, UECSA, NEWA, APAP, FENAPD, ACPF, HOPE Enterprise and NGO Code of Conduct were in attendance at the half day consultative meeting, which was conducted in a good faith and fruitful way.

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