Who registers NGOs in Africa

Angola

ISAC

Institute for the Supervision of Community Activities (Instituto de Supervisão das Actividades Comunitárias)

ISAC is a public institute with legal personality and administrative, financial and asset autonomy. It monitors, supervises and evaluates the programmes and projects of non-profit...

Benin

MISP

Ministère de l'Intérieur et de la Sécurité Publique - Registre des associations et fondations

The Ministry of the Interior and Public Security runs the Register of Associations and Foundations, which since 19 December 2025 is the sole legal mechanism for declaring, register...

Botswana

DCNR

Registrar of Societies, Department of Civil and National Registration

The Registrar of Societies, part of the Department of Civil and National Registration, registers non-profit societies and NGOs in Botswana. These include charities, community organ...

Burkina Faso

MATM

Ministère de l'Administration territoriale et de la Mobilité (ministry in charge of public freedoms) - Guichet unique de...

The ministry in charge of public freedoms, currently the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Mobility, receives declarations of existence of associations and authorises fore...

Burundi

Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security

Ministry of the Interior, Community Development and Public Security

The Ministry of the Interior approves (agrément) and monitors national non-profit associations (ASBL) in Burundi, working with the relevant sector ministries. The 2017 law covers n...

Cabo Verde

DGRNI

Direção-Geral dos Registos, Notariado e Identificação (Conservatória do Registo de Pessoas Coletivas)

The DGRNI is the Ministry of Justice service responsible for registries, notaries and civil identification. Among other things it organises and manages the central file of legal pe...

Cameroon

MINAT

Ministry of Territorial Administration (Ministère de l'Administration Territoriale) - Directorate of Political Affairs,...

MINAT prepares and applies the laws on public liberties and follows the activities of associations, non-profit organisations and movements. Within its Directorate of Political Affa...

Central African Republic

SPONG

Ministry of Economy, Planning and Cooperation (Ministère de l'Économie, du Plan et de la Coopération) - Permanent Secret...

Associations are first recognised by the Minister in charge of Territorial Administration. NGO status (agrément) is then granted by order of the Minister of Economy, Planning and C...

Chad

MAT

Ministry of Territorial Administration (Ministère de l'Administration du Territoire) - Directorate of Political Affairs...

Under Ordinance 023/PR/2018, associations need prior authorisation to operate from the Minister in charge of Territorial Administration. The Ministry decides on authorisation or re...

Comoros

Ministry of the Interior (Ministère de l'Intérieur, de la Décentralisation et de l'Administration Territoriale)

Ministry of the Interior (Ministère de l'Intérieur, de la Décentralisation et de l'Administration Territoriale)

Associations in the Comoros gain legal personality by registering a declaration, which is handled by the prefecture of the association's head office and overseen by the Ministry of...

Côte d'Ivoire

DGAT

Direction Générale de l'Administration du Territoire (DGAT)

The DGAT is one of the five directorates-general of the Ministry of the Interior and Security. Besides managing administrative districts and prefectoral authorities, it handles the...

DR Congo

MIN.J&GS

Ministry of Justice and Keeper of the Seals (Ministère de la Justice et Garde des Sceaux)

The Minister of Justice grants legal personality (personnalité juridique) to non-profit associations (ASBL), NGOs, religious denominations and public utility establishments by mini...

Djibouti

DAGR

Ministry of the Interior – Directorate of General Administration and Regulation

The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for registering associations, following their activities and dealing with all questions about how they are governed and organised. Withi...

Equatorial Guinea

Ministry of the Interior and Local Corporations (Ministerio del Interior y Corporaciones Locales) - National Register of Associations and NGOs

Ministry of the Interior and Local Corporations (Ministerio del Interior y Corporaciones Locales) - National Register of...

The Ministry of the Interior authorises associations and NGOs, approves their statutes and enters them in the National Register of NGOs that it keeps. Associations gain legal perso...

Eritrea

MoLSW

Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (formerly Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare)

Under Proclamation No. 145/2005, the ministry responsible for labour and welfare registers and administers local and international NGOs in Eritrea. It decides on registration appli...

Ethiopia

ACSO

Authority for Civil Society Organizations

ACSO is the national body that registers, supports and oversees civil society organisations in Ethiopia, so that freedom of association can be fully exercised. It supervises CSOs t...

Gabon

DGELP

Ministry of the Interior, Security and Decentralisation - Directorate-General of Elections and Public Liberties (Directi...

The Ministry of the Interior grants legal recognition to associations, NGOs, religious congregations and political parties under Law No. 35/62. Its Directorate-General of Elections...

Gambia

NGOAA

NGO Affairs Agency

The NGO Affairs Agency is the semi-autonomous government body set up by the 1996 NGO Decree to act as the administrative link between government and NGOs operating in The Gambia. I...

Ghana

NPOS

Non-Profit Organisations Secretariat

The NPO Secretariat is a state agency set up under the Non-Profit Organisation Policy 2020 and Directives 2020 to create an effective regulatory and coordinating mechanism for the...

Guinea

Direction Nationale de Régulation et de Promotion des Organisations Non Gouvernementales et Mouvements Associatifs

Direction Nationale de Régulation et de Promotion des Organisations Non Gouvernementales et Mouvements Associatifs

The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (MATD) is responsible for drafting the laws and regulations on associations and NGOs, ensuring they are applied, and...

Kenya

PBORA

Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority

PBORA is the state corporation responsible for registering and regulating charitable organisations in Kenya, now called Public Benefit Organizations (PBOs). Under Section 42 of the...

Liberia

MFDP

Ministry of Finance and Development Planning - NGO Coordination Unit

The NGO Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning registers and accredits all NGOs operating in Liberia and checks that they meet legal and operational...

Malawi

NGORA

Non-Governmental Organizations Regulatory Authority

NGORA registers, regulates and oversees all NGOs operating in Malawi, to ensure accountability, transparency and coordination in the sector. Its values are professionalism, indepen...

Mali

DGAT

Direction Générale de l'Administration du Territoire (DGAT)

The DGAT of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation is responsible, among other things, for drafting and implementing the laws and regulations on associatio...

Mauritania

MID

Ministère de l'Intérieur et de la Décentralisation (Public Freedoms - associations and NGOs)

The Ministry of Interior and Decentralisation oversees associations and NGOs under its Public Freedoms portfolio. Under the 2021 associations law, associations acquire legal capaci...

Mozambique

MJCR

Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs (Ministério da Justiça, Assuntos Constitucionais e Religiosos)

The Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs grants legal recognition to national associations under the Associations Law (Lei 8/91), by ministerial order (despach...

Namibia

FIC

Financial Intelligence Centre (NPO registration and supervision)

Namibia has no single NGO registrar. Since the 2019 amendment, NPOs have been accountable institutions under the Financial Intelligence Act, and the Financial Intelligence Centre r...

Niger

MISPAT

Ministère de l'Intérieur, de la Sécurité Publique et de l'Administration du Territoire (MISPAT) - Direction des Libertés...

The Ministry of the Interior, Public Security and Territorial Administration oversees NGOs and development associations in Niger, approves (recognises) them, and can suspend or wit...

Nigeria

CAC

Corporate Affairs Commission

Nigeria's corporate registry. NGOs, associations, foundations and churches register with CAC as Incorporated Trustees. CAC registers, regulates and keeps records of companies, busi...

Republic of the Congo

MID

Ministry of the Interior and Decentralisation (Ministère de l'Intérieur et de la Décentralisation) - departmental prefec...

The Ministry of the Interior and Decentralisation represents the State in the departments and sub-prefectures through territorial administration, under the Directorate-General of T...

Rwanda

RGB

Rwanda Governance Board

RGB promotes good governance and monitors service delivery in public and private institutions and civil society. For civil society it registers national NGOs and faith-based organi...

Senegal

DPONG

Direction du Partenariat avec les ONG (DPONG), Direction générale de l'Administration territoriale

The Directorate for Partnership with NGOs (DPONG), part of the Ministry of the Interior's Directorate-General of Territorial Administration (DGAT), handles applications for NGO app...

Seychelles

Registrar of Associations, Registration Division (Registrar General's Office)

Registrar of Associations, Registration Division (Registrar General's Office)

The Registrar of Associations, part of the Registration Division of the Registrar General's Office, registers and regulates associations, including NGOs and sports bodies, under th...

Somalia

MoIFAR

Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (NGO Registration Department)

At federal level, the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation registers non-governmental organisations through its NGO Registration department. Its NGO registratio...

South Africa

NPO Directorate

Nonprofit Organisations Directorate, Department of Social Development

The Directorate administers South Africa's Register of Nonprofit Organisations. Registration is voluntary, and the register is public, supporting transparency, accountability and p...

South Sudan

RRC

Relief and Rehabilitation Commission

The Relief and Rehabilitation Commission registers and licenses national and international NGOs working in South Sudan under the NGO Act 2016. Its Directorate of NGO Affairs handle...

Sudan

HAC

Humanitarian Aid Commission

HAC coordinates and carries out humanitarian work in Sudan under the Voluntary and Humanitarian Work Act 2006. It registers national, regional and foreign voluntary organisations a...

São Tomé and Príncipe

DGRN

Directorate-General of Registries and Notary (Direcção Geral dos Registos e do Notariado) - Ministry of Justice

The DGRN is the central State service for registries and notary, with administrative and financial autonomy and nationwide jurisdiction, within the Ministry of Justice. Its Notary...

Tanzania

NGO Registration (Ministry)

Registration and Coordination of NGOs, Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups

A division of the ministry registers and coordinates NGOs in Mainland Tanzania. It registers local and international NGOs, collects annual fees, annual performance reports and audi...

Uganda

NGO Bureau

National Bureau for Non-Governmental Organisations

A semi-autonomous body under the Ministry of Internal Affairs that registers, regulates, coordinates, inspects, monitors and oversees all NGO operations in Uganda.

Zambia

DRNGO

Department of Registrar for Non-Governmental Organisations

The Department of Registrar for NGOs registers, coordinates and regulates all local and international NGOs operating in Zambia under the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009. It aims to make NGO...

Zimbabwe

PVO Registrar

Registrar of Private Voluntary Organisations (Department of Social Development)

The ministry's Department of Social Development registers non-profit, non-political charitable organisations as Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) under the PVO Act, so that th...