The Centre de Recherche sur l’Anti-Corruption is a DRC-registered organization committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct within communities. Through various initiatives, CERC seeks to empower individuals to demand integrity in public services, fostering a culture of accountability and combating corruption at the grassroots level. It has emerged as a pioneer in introducing creative approaches to promote social accountability and anti-corruption efforts in education and health sectors in South-Kivu, North-Kivu and Kinshasa.

Our Mission

• to advance knowledge on the causes and consequences of corruption and support the development of new anti-corruption policies and initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

• to empower young people with skills and tools to create positive change towards a more accountable, open and inclusive institutions and public services.

Our Vision

CERC is working towards a Congo in which :

• Government, public institutions, politics, businesses, Civil Society are free from corruption.
• young people empowered with knowledge and skills to take action to claim and defend their own human rights and the rights of others.
• Barriers to meaningful participation are removed and collaboration and equitable partnerships are encouraged so that young people have opportunities to reach their full potential.
• Youth leadership capacity emerges to influence decision-makers and hold governments accountable to the needs and aspirations of citizens.

Our Values

Equality & Non-discrimination

• We affirm our commitment to equality, social justice, and respect for human dignity for all.
• Our efforts to advance equality and non-discrimination are a pillar on which we build our programs.
• We work to overcome the imbalances in power which led to inequalities to establish equality between men, women and those who do not identify as one or the other – in society as well as within our own organization.
• In our interactions inside the organization and with our external stakeholders, we do not discriminate, including based on race, religion, ability, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or social status. We recognize and work to alleviate the impact of intersecting forms of discrimination.
• We take action to prevent violence, discrimination, and harassment in all their forms in the context of our programs and internal operations.

Meaningful Participation 

• Meaningful participation is a fundamental right. It is a key ingredient in achieving both empowerment and the realization of all human rights.
• We intentionally create opportunities for participation and to build the capacity of those who face barriers to participation.
• Meaningful participation of our team members and partners in all stages of our project cycle is critical to our success.
• We view stakeholders and beneficiaries as key agents of change – not mere recipients – and we encourage their active engagement and participation as opportunities for mutual learning and co-creation.
• We foster a climate that encourages the free expression of opinions and ideas, and we consider the ideas of others.

Accountability

•  We are accountable to our stakeholders and the beneficiaries of our actions and act in manner that is consistent with our human rights principles and our values.
• We maintain a high level of integrity and transparency.
• We respect our commitments to stakeholders, beneficiaries and to each other.
• We communicate our expectations in a clear manner and engage in regular dialogue with stakeholders, beneficiaries, and each other to ensure follow up.
• We recognize and learn from mistakes.

Mutual Respect and Trust

• We respect and trust each other and those with whom we work.
• We listen to and try to understand our colleagues, partners, and others.
• We recognize the critical role of open dialogue in our success.
• Our openness and transparency build confidence and contribute to the fulfilment of our mission.

Equitable Partnership

• Collaboration is fundamental to the success of our mission.
• We develop strategic alliances and partnerships based on a shared vision and priorities with those who share our commitment to the advancement of human rights and integrity.
• We recognize that we cannot be successful unless we work in sustainable partnerships that are mutually beneficial.
• We recognize and respect the knowledge and experience of our partners and our partnerships provide a forum for mutual learning.
• We recognize that equitable partnerships require investments of time and energy, and that open dialogue is critical to acknowledge and address power dynamics within these relationships.

Innovation

• We seek to be at the forefront of integrity and anti-corruption education practice to be better equipped to respond to the evolving needs in the communities where we work.
• We strive to make use of new technological advances and learning to enhance the reach and impact of our programs.
• We learn from our experiences and seek opportunities to create innovative solutions that drive both our mission and our motivation.