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A trusted partner for integrity

Discover CERC

CERC partners with young people, communities, public institutions and donors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to build integrity, demand accountability and make public services work for everyone.

  • 204 Integrity Clubs
  • 3,060 students trained as monitors
  • 33% of problems resolved
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Monitors with their certificates after their training, February 2019
Who we are

A Congolese organisation with young people at its heart

Founded in April 2017 in South Kivu, the Centre de Recherche sur l’Anti-Corruption (CERC) is a Congolese non-governmental organisation committed to transparency, accountability and ethical conduct. With a proud record and a forward-looking vision, CERC helps young people, communities and institutions build a Congo of integrity, fairness and accountability.

A pioneer of creative approaches to social accountability in the education and health sectors of South Kivu, North Kivu and Kinshasa, CERC has delivered projects with international donors and partners – among them the Global Partnership for Education, the European Union, the US Department of State, USAID, Integrity Action, Oxfam Denmark, IREX and RCN Justice & Démocratie. Since 2021, CERC has held special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Today, CERC’s programmes – Integrity Clubs in schools, institutional integrity, the rule of law and access to justice, the monitoring of the UN Convention against Corruption, and the fight against human trafficking and transnational organised crime – show how young Congolese people are shaping the future with purpose and ambition. Across our work, we combine field experience with research, data and our own citizen monitoring apps to learn what works, sharpen our decisions and deliver lasting value for our partners.

Young people have the potential to meet the most pressing challenges of our generation. Given training, spaces for engagement and resources, they help build institutions that are more accountable, open, inclusive and responsive to their communities.

Our programmes

Integrity Clubs in SchoolsInstitutional Integrity BuildingRule of Law and Access to JusticeUNCAC Implementation MonitoringCountering Human Trafficking (UNTOC)Countering Transnational Organised Crime
Our mission

What we set out to do

CERC develops young leaders, learners and institutions so that Congolese people can shape their own future. We build trust between citizens and those in charge, open pathways for young people to learn and lead, and help communities and institutions use evidence and technology to make public services work. Working with schools, communities, authorities and partners, we deliver practical solutions and create lasting value.

1

Empower young people

with the skills and tools to create positive change towards more accountable, open and inclusive institutions and public services.

2

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.

The future we’re building

A Congo in which…

CERC is building a future in which young people lead with integrity, public services reach the people they are meant for, and institutions answer to the citizens they serve. Our work builds on what we have learned since 2017, while helping us move faster, learn continuously and create lasting value in a changing country.

Free from corruption

Government, public institutions, politics, businesses and civil society are free from corruption.

Young people empowered

Young people have the knowledge and skills to claim and defend their own human rights and the rights of others.

Meaningful participation

Barriers to participation are removed, and collaboration and equitable partnerships give young people the chance to reach their full potential.

Youth leadership

Young leaders influence decision-makers and hold governments accountable to the needs and aspirations of citizens.

Our story

Built on a strong foundation

CERC was founded in April 2017 in Uvira and Bukavu, South Kivu, by people who wanted to answer three questions about integrity, public services and peace. From 20 Integrity Clubs in Uvira in 2018, our work has grown to schools across South Kivu and Kinshasa, the courts and universities of the capital, and the United Nations.

That foundation still inspires our work today: building trust, expanding opportunity for young people, and serving communities and partners with integrity, excellence and hope for what is possible.

Learn more about our history

CERC was founded in April 2017 to find answers to the following questions:

1

How can communities obtain better services using integrity?

2

How can we teach integrity to equip the next generation of leaders to say no to corruption?

3

How can integrity be a sustainable response to conflict and instability in eastern Congo?

Our vision for impact

How we create lasting impact

We believe real progress comes from investing in young people, building relationships that last and creating the conditions where trust can grow. We work alongside schools, communities, public institutions, civil society organisations and donors to turn shared ambition into practical progress. More than implementing projects, we build trusted partnerships, bring research and technical expertise, and design solutions that are grounded in the local context and built to last.

Young people are at the heart of CERC’s vision. Given training, spaces for engagement and resources, they monitor the services and projects in their communities, work with those in charge to solve the problems they find, and become the ethical leaders their country needs.

Across our programmes, we pair field experience with agility, research and learning from data: we monitor and evaluate our projects, publish what we learn, and have our accounts audited each year by an independent auditor. This commitment to evidence and accountability lets us respond to new challenges while creating lasting value for the people and communities we serve.

Our values

What guides our work

Equality & non-discrimination

We affirm our commitment to equality, social justice and respect for human dignity for all.

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  • 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 that lead to inequality, in society as well as within our own organization.
  • We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ability, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or social status, and we work to alleviate intersecting forms of discrimination.
  • We take action to prevent violence, discrimination and harassment in all their forms in our programs and internal operations.

Meaningful participation

Meaningful participation is a fundamental right and a key ingredient of empowerment and the realization of all human rights.

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  • We intentionally create opportunities for participation and build the capacity of those who face barriers to it.
  • The participation of our team members and partners in every stage of the project cycle is critical to our success.
  • We see stakeholders and beneficiaries as agents of change, not mere recipients, and encourage their engagement as an opportunity for mutual learning and co-creation.
  • We foster a climate that encourages the free expression of opinions and ideas.

Accountability

We are accountable to our stakeholders and the beneficiaries of our actions, and act consistently with our human rights principles and values.

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  • We maintain a high level of integrity and transparency.
  • We respect our commitments to stakeholders, beneficiaries and each other.
  • We communicate our expectations clearly and engage in regular dialogue to ensure follow-up.
  • We recognize and learn from mistakes.

Mutual respect & trust

We respect and trust each other and those with whom we work.

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  • 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 our mission.

Equitable partnership

Collaboration is fundamental to the success of our mission.

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  • We build strategic alliances with those who share our commitment to human rights and integrity.
  • We can only succeed through sustainable partnerships that are mutually beneficial.
  • We respect the knowledge and experience of our partners; our partnerships are a forum for mutual learning.
  • Equitable partnerships need time and energy, and open dialogue to address power dynamics.

Innovation

We seek to be at the forefront of integrity and anti-corruption education to respond to the evolving needs of the communities where we work.

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  • We use new technology and learning to extend the reach and impact of our programs.
  • We learn from experience and look for innovative solutions that drive our mission and our motivation.
Innovation

Innovation with our citizen monitoring apps

CERC’s own apps – EduCheck, HealthCheck, GovCheck and UNCAC Tracker – put citizen monitoring in everyone’s hands: pupils, parents, patients and citizens report on the schools, health centres and public services they use, and the data helps those in charge fix what does not work. With support from technology partners for non-profits – DigitalOcean, Microsoft and Twilio.org among them – our apps extend the reach of our programmes and bring data, technology and evidence to our partners’ work.

EduCheckMonitor your school: teacher attendance, school fees, water and sanitation, equipment.Open EduCheck (opens in a new tab)HealthCheckMonitor your health centre: quality of care, medicines, fees and hygiene.Open HealthCheck (opens in a new tab)GovCheckA problem in your neighbourhood or with a public service? Report it to your city or commune, and advocate until it is solved.Open GovCheck (opens in a new tab)UNCAC TrackerFollow how the DRC implements the UN Convention against Corruption.Open UNCAC Tracker (opens in a new tab)
Where we work

Rooted in the DRC, connected worldwide

From its roots in South Kivu and its registered office in Kinshasa, CERC brings a deep knowledge of the Congolese context and a strong sense of purpose to partnerships that strengthen communities, expand opportunity and help institutions and people thrive. Our work has reached schools, health centres, courts and public institutions in South Kivu, North Kivu and Kinshasa.

Through our special consultative status with ECOSOC, our work with the UNCAC Coalition and our partners around the world, we connect young Congolese people and institutions to the ideas, skills and networks that shape stronger futures – and bring the voice of Congolese civil society to the United Nations.

Our partners and donorsOur ECOSOC report

  • Global Partnership for Education
  • Oxfam Denmark
  • Integrity Action
  • USAID
  • IREX
  • European Union
  • Belgian Development Cooperation (DGD)
  • RCN Justice & Démocratie
  • US Department of State (INL)
  • Accountability Lab
  • UNCAC Coalition
  • Microsoft
  • Twilio.org
  • DigitalOcean
Our brand

The CERC brand

The CERC name and logo stand for integrity, independence and purpose for our partners and the communities we serve. The logo – a magnifying glass looking at the map of the DRC, with a check at its centre – brings together research, the Congo and integrity.

The CERC name and logo are reserved for partners, funders, journalists and supporters, for work connected with CERC. The logo files must not be redrawn, stretched or recoloured, although they may be resized proportionally. For questions or other formats, write to info@cerc.cd.

Download the brand kit

Stay connected. Support our work.

Follow us on social media, read our magazine and radio show, or help young Congolese people build a culture of integrity.

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How We StartedOur ApproachOur team