The Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations

The CVO is appointed by the Minister responsible for Social Policy in consultation with the Social Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives (Cap. 492, Part III, Article 5). The responsibilities related to his office include:

  • providing enrolment facilities for organisations which are eligible for enrolment in terms of this Act;
  • monitoring the activities of voluntary organisations in order to ensure observance of the provisions of this Act and any regulations made thereunder;
  • providing Voluntary organisations with information about the benefits and responsibilities deriving from registration as legal persons in terms of the Second Schedule to the Civil Code and enrolment in terms of this Act;
  • providing information and guidelines to persons performing voluntary work and to members of Voluntary organisations, for the better performance of their role and for the better achievement of the objectives of the Voluntary organisations in which they serve;
  • making recommendations to the Minister on legislation and policies in support of Voluntary organisations, volunteers and voluntary work;
  • assisting Government, government departments, public agencies and entities controlled by the Government in preparing and reviewing policies in support of Voluntary organisations and the voluntary sector in general;
  • investigating any complaints relating to Voluntary organisations or persons or organisations purporting to be Voluntary organisations and their activities, and to take such action as is in his power to redress any justified grievance that may come to his notice;
  • monitoring the promotion of Voluntary organisations and the behaviour of administrators of such organisations to ensure the observance of high standards of accountability and transparency and compliance with law;
  • co-ordinating and communicating with the Registrar for Legal Persons in terms of the Second Schedule to the Civil Code with a view to facilitating registration and enrolment processes for Voluntary organisations;
  • co-operating with and supporting the Council to develop policies which will be of benefit to the voluntary sector in general or categories thereof;
  • performing any other function or duty that is assigned to him under this Act and any regulations made thereunder as well as such other functions as may be assigned to him under any other law. (Cap. 492, Part III, Article 7)