Zimbabwe Launches 'Talk to Your Regulator Forum to Foster NGO-Regulator Collaboration

In Conference

In an innovative move to enhance the operational environment for civil society organizations (CSOs), Zimbabwe has decided to look back to Your Regulator, a platform created by the esteemed NGO network in Uganda. This platform, formally known as the Civic Advocacy Hub, aims to bridge the gap between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and regulatory bodies through dialogue and engagement.

The introduction of "Talk to Your Regulator" in Zimbabwe comes at a crucial time when NGOs are seeking a more conducive and collaborative operational framework with their regulatory counterparts.

• Enhance Understanding: By providing a forum where NGOs can directly interact with regulators, there is an increased understanding of compliance requirements. This demystifies the regulatory framework, making it more accessible for organizations of varying sizes and capacities.

• Strengthen Relationships: Regular interaction between NGOs and their regulators is expected to build strong relationships. This can lead to better collaboration, where both parties are committed to the values of transparency, accountability, and mutual understanding.

• Policy Influence: Through this dialogue, there's potential for NGOs to influence policy, leading to amendments that better suit the operational realities faced by NGOs. This can result in a more society.

• Advocate for Simplification: One of the core objectives is to advocate for the streamlining of NGO regulations. Complex and resource-intensive regulations can hinder the operations of NGOs, especially those with limited resources. The forum will serve as a platform to discuss and potentially make regulations more conducive to the growth and efficiency of CSOs in Zimbabwe.

The Civic Advisory Hub plans to host regular meetings, workshops, and seminars where various compliance registration processes, reporting requirements, and other regulatory issues can be discussed openly. These sessions are not only informative but are designed to provide a platform for real-time feedback and suggestions for how current regulatory practices could be improved.