How we provide extra support for NGOs in Africa
How do NGOs manage to be steady on their feet in volatile African markets?
NGOs can be especially vulnerable when they expand to Africa, as they depend on funding and legislation concerning them may change at the drop of a hat. When times are tough for NGOs, a little extra support can go a long way. With over 15 years in operation across more than 46 African countries, Africa HR Solutions has had the opportunity to work with many NGOs like yours, supporting their entry and growth into Africa beyond what is usually expected of an Employer of Record in Africa.
Because we care for your mission and for Africa’s growth, we offer extra support to NGOs in Africa in these many ways:
1. Expansion and market entry advice
Expansion is no walk in the park, neither is maintaining a presence in-country once you’ve expanded there. According to the South African NGO Network (Sangonet), approximately 36,000 of South Africa’s then 122,000 NGO’s and NPOs had to be deregistered in 2018, owing to growing financial strains, fundraising issues, as well as non-compliance with legal requirements. This constitutes a whopping 29.5% of all registered NGOs at the time.
Our team has gained its fair share of first-hand experience as we’ve helped NGOs like yours expand to multiple African countries while avoiding the many pitfalls lying in wait there. This hands-on experience has taken us through many ups and downs: from legislation changes to political decisions, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and more. As such, we’ve gained a deeper understanding of how multiple systems work in different circumstances – the kind of knowledge that cannot be found in books but that wounds up being invaluable to NGOs that are first expanding into an African country. We offer specialised advice to NGOs as they expand to specific countries and specific industries such as healthcare, finance, agriculture & farming, education and more.
We share every piece of information and knowledge we can to help you expand and keep operations running in multiple countries in Africa, from South Africa all the way to Madagascar, Zimbabwe, and Eswatini among others.
2. Banking infrastructure advice
Banking systems vary drastically across Africa. In parts of Kenya for example, mobile payments through the M-Pesa platform are becoming more and more commonplace. At the same time, in countries like Madagascar, banking penetration rates are among the lowest in Africa, with less than 10% of the population in 2017 having a bank account, and only 30% of the adult population having access to formal financial services. What this means for payments (especially with regards to payroll and salary payments), is that bank transfers are not necessarily possible, and payments must be made manually, often in-person. These extreme variations make it difficult for NGOs to make and receive payments in Africa. As your employer of record across multiple African countries, we not only ensure that your payroll and salary payments are made efficiently and on time – we also give you prior advice, so you know what to expect going in for other payments you need to make.
3. Cash flow considerations and budget management
Cash flow and budget management are sensitive topics for all companies, but it can be especially so for NGOs, for whom funding is often a constant source of worry. This is something we have come to understand is a core issue for NGOs, but unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to cash flow issues. Because cash flow is extremely personal to an organisation and depends on the amounts coming in and out and at which frequency, personalised advice is the only way through. Even though cash flow considerations as well as budget management go beyond the scope of services for an African Employer of Record, our team is happy to go the extra mile to help you achieve your mission and bring you ease in these highly delicate matters.
4. Cultural dimension and sensitivity
For NGOs that are expanding to an African country, cultural sensitivity is crucial to fulfilling their mission, especially when they are employing local African workers. A high level of cultural understanding is necessary if NGOs want their work culture to trickle down to their employees who are responsible for executing the company’s vision. As your Employer of Record in Africa, we are keenly aware of the many customs, habits and requirements specific to each of the 46 African countries we are active in. Through this, we offer some much-needed extra support, allowing communication to flow better within your NGO.
5. Customised payroll system
A ready-made payroll system can be useful – up until the moment when you need a specific feature to work in a specific way for you. Because we understand the need to have a payroll system that works for you particularly, we work to understand your needs and to customise your payroll system accordingly. This, in turn, means time saved, greater employee satisfaction and more time to dedicate to your core mission.
Need an Employer of Record in South Africa, Malawi, Madagascar, and more?
With over 15 years’ experience in Africa, Africa HR Solutions is the employer of record your NGO needs to thrive. We take over payroll, legal compliance, onboarding and offboarding, and more for your NGO, allowing you to focus on your core mission. Want to learn more about how we can help you? Chat with one of our experts here.
