Egypt launches 1st website dedicated to NGOs services

CAIRO – 13 December 2022: Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Qabaj announced Tuesday the launching of Egypt's first website dedicated to providing electronic services to NGOs, and whose number amounts to 36 services.

Assistant to Minister of Social Solidarity for Civil Society Affairs that Ayman Abdel Mawgoud told Al Watan newspaper in January that 28,000 unlicensed NGOs in Egypt finished legalizing their status, while 32,000 others are still in the process after applying online.

The official referred to Article 2 of law no. 149/2019 providing that unlicensed NGOs must apply on licensing within a year since the foundation date. He added that the Cabinet will submit soon a draft amendment to the House of Representatives to extend the duration to two years.

The documents required include a proof of the existence of a headquarters, and criminal records of founding members. The other requirements are that the number of board members should be between five and 15 and it has to be an odd number, and, the minimum number of founders (they can be human or non-human entities) must be 10.

Minister Qabaj stated earlier that Egypt had 52,000 local NGOs, and 59 foreign NGOs. The minister elaborated that the size of foreign funds granted to NGOs in Egypt in 2020 was LE2 billion. The grants came from American, French, German, and Swiss entities.

Qabaj pointed out that foreign funding is allowed as long as the source is known and is not suspected of involvement in terrorism, extremism, or money laundering.