Petition to Review NGO Registration Fees and Standards in Sierra Leone
The Issue
To: All National and International Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Partners, and Supporters of Development in Sierra Leone.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On behalf of the leadership of World Changing Centre Global (WCC), a UK-based charity (Postcode: DA8 1RY), we are formally raising critical concerns regarding the current registration and renewal fee structures for local and international NGOs operating within Sierra Leone.
Data collected from sector networks indicates that these operational fees have escalated to an exceptionally high level. This structure places an unsustainable financial strain on non-profit, charitable, and humanitarian organizations at a time when vulnerable communities rely heavily on civil society interventions. The current baseline fee structure is noted as follows:
National NGO Registration: NLe 6,620.00
International NGO Registration: NLe 11,641.00
National NGO Renewal: NLe 4,867.00
International NGO Renewal: NLe 9,065.00
Given the challenging economic climate, it is vital that regulatory frameworks allow non-profit entities the avenue to discuss concessionary or adjusted fee rates with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED).
Furthermore, clear discrepancies exist within institutional communications regarding these costs. While the baseline metrics can be viewed via the MoPED Partnership Mapping Tool, the fee frameworks published by the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (SLANGO) are structured entirely in Sierra Leonean Leones (NLe). Conversely, MoPED presents its internal ministry benchmarks using a split structure of Leones for national NGOs and US dollars for international entities. This lack of alignment creates administrative confusion and operational barriers for organizations attempting to maintain compliance.
Our Specific Requests:
Fee Review & Reduction: We respectfully call upon the relevant governing authorities to conduct an immediate review of the current registration and renewal fees, adjusting them to a fair and sustainable level that safeguards the continuity of vital development aid.
Institutional Transparency & Reconciled Standards: We request complete transparency regarding the criteria used to calculate these fees. We further request that MoPED and SLANGO formally align their billing currencies and reporting frameworks to eliminate systemic administrative discrepancies.
We kindly urge all civil society actors and development partners facing similar operational hurdles to sign and share this petition as we collectively await clarification, engagement, and formal confirmation from the governing bodies.
Our singular goal is to foster a fair, transparent, and proportionate regulatory environment that empowers non-profit organizations to effectively serve the people of Sierra Leone.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Initiated by: Bernice Langley
On behalf of: World Changing Centre Global (WCC, DA8 1RY) & Concerned Civil Society Partners
57
The Issue
To: All National and International Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Partners, and Supporters of Development in Sierra Leone.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On behalf of the leadership of World Changing Centre Global (WCC), a UK-based charity (Postcode: DA8 1RY), we are formally raising critical concerns regarding the current registration and renewal fee structures for local and international NGOs operating within Sierra Leone.
Data collected from sector networks indicates that these operational fees have escalated to an exceptionally high level. This structure places an unsustainable financial strain on non-profit, charitable, and humanitarian organizations at a time when vulnerable communities rely heavily on civil society interventions. The current baseline fee structure is noted as follows:
National NGO Registration: NLe 6,620.00
International NGO Registration: NLe 11,641.00
National NGO Renewal: NLe 4,867.00
International NGO Renewal: NLe 9,065.00
Given the challenging economic climate, it is vital that regulatory frameworks allow non-profit entities the avenue to discuss concessionary or adjusted fee rates with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED).
Furthermore, clear discrepancies exist within institutional communications regarding these costs. While the baseline metrics can be viewed via the MoPED Partnership Mapping Tool, the fee frameworks published by the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (SLANGO) are structured entirely in Sierra Leonean Leones (NLe). Conversely, MoPED presents its internal ministry benchmarks using a split structure of Leones for national NGOs and US dollars for international entities. This lack of alignment creates administrative confusion and operational barriers for organizations attempting to maintain compliance.
Our Specific Requests:
Fee Review & Reduction: We respectfully call upon the relevant governing authorities to conduct an immediate review of the current registration and renewal fees, adjusting them to a fair and sustainable level that safeguards the continuity of vital development aid.
Institutional Transparency & Reconciled Standards: We request complete transparency regarding the criteria used to calculate these fees. We further request that MoPED and SLANGO formally align their billing currencies and reporting frameworks to eliminate systemic administrative discrepancies.
We kindly urge all civil society actors and development partners facing similar operational hurdles to sign and share this petition as we collectively await clarification, engagement, and formal confirmation from the governing bodies.
Our singular goal is to foster a fair, transparent, and proportionate regulatory environment that empowers non-profit organizations to effectively serve the people of Sierra Leone.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Initiated by: Bernice Langley
On behalf of: World Changing Centre Global (WCC, DA8 1RY) & Concerned Civil Society Partners
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Petition created on 21 September 2026