Registrar of Private Voluntary Organisations (Department of Social Development) (PVO Registrar)

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 they can complement government social safety nets. The 2025 Amendment Act created a PVO Board and an Office of the Registrar of PVOs to register, supervise, regulate and cancel PVOs. It also widened the scope to cover trusts and other legal arrangements, and it bars PVOs from supporting or opposing political parties or candidates.

Local organisations apply at the district Social Development Office nearest their headquarters with a constitution, forms PVO 1 and PVO 2, proof of a newspaper advertisement and a 21-day waiting period, CVs and police clearances for at least seven executive committee members, a local authority support letter and founding meeting minutes. The District Social Development Officer assesses the papers, interviews the applicants and sends a recommendation to the Provincial Social Development Officer for a quality check. The national office then carries out due diligence and presents the application to the PVO Board for registration. International NGOs sign an MOU with the relevant line ministry, which the Attorney General's Office checks and Cabinet approves, and also complete Form PVO 1. Organisations may only run the programmes specified in their MOU or registration and must comply with the Act and sector policy guidelines.