One-stop portal streamlines procedures for social organizations

The city's civil affairs authorities on Thursday launched a one-stop portal for social organizations, significantly streamlining the application and approval procedures on 15 service items.

The portal at http://ywtb.shstj.gov.cn, released by Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau and Shanghai Administration Bureau of NGOs, covers affairs such as the registration of newly established social organizations, change of registration, extension of valid terms, and nullification of registration.

The application, review and decision will all be processed online, and now only one visit is required to registration management authorities for social organizations if all required materials have been prepared, instead of four visits in the past. The registration certificates and documents will be delivered via express delivery.

Applicants are able to learn about the progress of applications via short messages or by logging on to the platform. 

The number of application materials required has been cut, with repeated or unnecessary ones avoided.

An information data base of social organizations will also be set up on the platform for the management of social organizations. 

By the end of October, more services such as reapplying for certificates in case of loss for three types of social organizations will also be launched on the platform.

The development of Shanghai's social organizations is rapid and they have increasingly become an important force in promoting the city's economic and social development, the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau said. 

The Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau and Shanghai Administration Bureau of NGOs conducted an eight-month research project for the launch of the platform, and a trial on the online application of the establishment of foundations started in May as preparation. 

Shanghai is now home to nearly 16,000 social organizations.