Country: Malawi

Organization: Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation

3) Strategy Summary:
Did you know that the cost for a bottle of beer can change society. If all the NGOs can come together and lobby with the Members of Parliament and Government officeials to enact a piece of ligislation aimed at taxing all employees' salaries the amount of money equaling the cost of just one beer per month, government could raise a substantial amount of this "special tax" to go into the "NGO Fund." Of course, the money may not be enough to run all the NGOs in the country, but it will be enough at least to increase their basic capacity. Some NGOs do not even have the capacity to embark on a fundraising drive (e.g. do not even have a computer) to get them off the ground. This initiative is worth exploring as it has never happened anywhere.

4) How the Strategy Works:
1. First talk the employees across the country explaining to (and convincing) them how the money, which is equavalent to the bottle of beer pre month, can go a long way in promoting the social welfare of people. State how the objectives of NGOs are often misunderstood and why there is not enough information available regarding their activities, which affects government policies, rules and regulations and programs intended to promote NGOs.

2. Lobby with the lawmakers, the Members of the Parliament, government offcials on the same.

3. State that the money is meant for capacity building of NGOs, for the first time generated from the people themselves rather than relying on international donors as has been the trend so far.

5) Key Strategy Elements:

i. Mobilizing Citizen Support:
The stretegy involves public employees. First we need to sell the concept to the public (the citizen) and after they inspiring them, we can together bring it to the policy and law makers for further action.

ii. Generating Financial and Nonfinancial Resources:
When the initiative is approved in Parliament, financial resources will then be generated for NGOs' capacity building.

iv. Engaging and Managing Volunteers:
During the advocacy/campaign period, we expect the volunteers to get involved.

v. Developing Information and Spreading the Message:
All channels of information listed above shall be used.

6) Increasing Self-sufficiency and Social Impact:
This initiative has only been conceptionalised by my organisation, but shall be implemented by all pertner organisations in Malawi. It meant not only to benefit one organisations, but all legally established (or registered) non-profit organisations in Malawi. The steps mentioned in 4 and 5 therefore makes my organisation self-sufficient in the sense that the resources used are generated from all the orgnisations involved. Small resources (no matter how small) from each organisation put together, can produce a remarkable synergy until the objectives of the campaign is achieved.

8) Organization Mission and Vision:
Mission: To contribute towards the protection, promotion and consolidation of good governance by empowering rural and urban communities in Malawi.

Vision: A vibrant Malawian culture which embraces values of democracy and human rights.

Looking Forward to the Next Three Years:
The most important thing is get the support of the citizens. Once that is done in a year, the stretegy will have to establish itself for good

Contact Information:
George  Kayange
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation
Malawi
Tel: (265) 1 761 122
Fax: (265) 1 761 700
Email: chrr@sdnp.org.mw
Website: http://www.chrr.org.mw