Manama: The Ministry of Social Development has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the regulatory frameworks governing civil society organisations' operations to ensure transparency and compliance with legal standards. This move aims to streamline fundraising processes and enforce stricter compliance with legal provisions related to fund management for public purposes.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Decision (51) of 2026 introduces a unified application process for collecting, receiving, transferring, and accepting funds. This includes applications for licences to collect funds, notifications for receiving funds without a licence, transferring funds outside Bahrain, and accepting funds from abroad. The unified procedures are designed to facilitate application processes within approved frameworks. Additionally, Decision (52) of 2026 outlines specific violations subject to administrative fines, establishing a clear framework to address violations based on their nature and severity, thereby reinforcing fairness and transparency.
The Ministry highlighted that violations under this decision are addressed directly with the concerned organisations, ensuring a prompt resolution without disrupting their activities. Administrative fines vary from BHD 100 to BHD 10,000, covering regulatory aspects such as unlicensed fundraising, misappropriation of funds, and non-compliance with reporting requirements. The graduated penalties ensure proportionality between the violation's nature and the imposed penalty.
Furthermore, the Ministry aims to promote awareness and preventive measures by clarifying procedural requirements and legal obligations. It will conduct awareness workshops for civil society members to explain key provisions and will disseminate information through social media platforms to enhance compliance with the new regulations.
The Ministry stressed its ongoing collaboration with civil society organisations to provide necessary support and guidance, ensuring effective implementation of the decisions and enhancing civil society work within a clear regulatory framework.