The National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) was established after government realized that there was immediate need for proper coordination of youth programmes, following the mushrooming of various youth-serving and youth-led organizations and an exponential rise in the interest of other non-state actors to participate in the youth sector. The Council exists as an implementing arm of the Ministry for youth, currently part of the Ministry of Labour, Youth, and Sports. NYCOM is a key institution for ensuring efficient and effective implementation, coordination and evaluation of various youth programmes in Malawi. NYCOM is mandated to register youth organisations, and coordinate, promote and regulate youth work in Malawi.