Sustainable development and Humanitarian Action (SDHA) joined other NGOs operating in a one day NGO Law refreshing workshop held on 6th February 2020 in Muhanga District, Southern Province. In this workshop SDHA was represented by Mr. Edison Munyemana.
The workshop convened by CCOAIB (Conseil de concertation des Organisations d’ Appui aux Initiatives de Base) aimed at explaining to participants the Law governing NGOs and discussing on rights of Law N°04/2012 of 17/02/2012 governing the organisation and the functioning of national non-governmental organizations.
CCOAIB is an Umbrella organization of 40 Rwandan local NGOs in development. It serves as a framework of exchange, consultations, dialogue, negotiation, and solidarity.
Ms Mutakwasuku Yvone, the chairperson of CCOIB called local NGOs to join the umbrella for information sharing and advocacy.
Jean Bosco Senyabatera, the CCOAIB Executive Secretary explained the law where participants learnt a lot about rights, responsibilities and benefits of the NGO law.
One of the most franked by participants was the article allowing NGOs to do business.
The Article 4 of the law grants freedom to a national non-governmental organisation may conduct commercial activities only when it is authorized to do so and the profit from such activities is meant to be used in activities related to its objectives.
The law says that “While carrying out commercial activities, the national non-governmental organisation shall abide by laws which govern registration and functioning of the commercial activities carried out by companies or cooperative societies.”
In this workshop, timely communication between NGOs and the District was recommended as way to foster cooperation and achievement of planned activities at the side of NGOs.