About 86% of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) required to align their operations with Rwanda’s new legal framework submitted their applications within the prescribed deadline, the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) said on Thursday.
The announcement marks a key milestone in the implementation of Law No. 058/2024, which replaces separate legal frameworks that had governed domestic and international NGOs since 2012 with a single law regulating the sector.
In a statement issued on July 30, RGB welcomed what it described as a strong response from civil society organizations, saying the level of participation reflected their willingness to comply with the new legal requirements and strengthen standards of accountability, transparency and good governance.
The law introduces new requirements governing legal registration, institutional governance, financial management, reporting obligations and professional conduct. It also formally recognizes umbrella organizations representing NGOs and abolishes the provisional legal certificates that were previously issued during the registration process.
According to RGB, the legislation is also intended to strengthen cooperation between government institutions and NGOs in implementing national development programmes while providing a more consistent framework for oversight and accountability.
Rwanda had 2,483 registered NGOs as of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda’s 2020 Establishment Census, comprising 2,173 local organizations and 310 international organizations. If those figures are used as a reference, the reported compliance rate would amount to about 2,135 organizations. RGB, however, did not specify the total number of organizations used to calculate the 86% figure, meaning the estimate is based on the latest publicly available data.
RGB attributed the high submission rate to a nationwide awareness campaign that included training sessions, consultations, advisory services and technical assistance provided to organizations during the transition to the new legal framework.
The regulator said it will continue reviewing applications submitted before the deadline and assist organizations that need to provide additional information or documentation to complete the process.
Organizations that did not submit applications during the harmonization period will also continue to receive guidance as they work toward obtaining legal recognition under the new law, RGB said.
