ECOSOC Quadrennial Report 2021–⁠2024

The Centre de Recherche sur l’Anti-Corruption (CERC) is a DRC-registered organisation 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 responsibility and anti-corruption efforts in education and health sectors in South Kivu, North Kivu and Kinshasa.

CERC is a NGO with Special Consultative Status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) since 2021.

The mission of CERC is to advance knowledge of the causes and consequences of corruption and support the development of new anti-corruption policies and initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. CERC aims to empower young people with skills and tools to create positive change towards more accountable, open, and inclusive institutions and public services.

The vision of CERC is working towards a Congo in which government, public institutions, politics, businesses, and civil society are free from corruption.

There have been no significant changes during the reporting period.

These activities contribute significantly to the works of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UNCAC Coalition in several ways:

1. In June 2021, CERC was commissioned by the UNCAC Coalition to produce the Civil Society Parallel Report on the implementation of provisions of Chapter II (Preventive Measures) and Chapter V (Asset Recovery) of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) by the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The full civil society parallel report in French can be found here, or at the bottom of this page. The translated version of the report in English is available here.
2. In 2022, CERC established 150 Integrity Clubs in secondary schools and trained 2250 schoolchildren in integrity-building mechanisms: By establishing Integrity Clubs and empowering students to learn about integrity while monitoring education services, CERC directly supports UNODC’s and the UNCAC Coalition’s efforts to promote transparency and combat corruption. These clubs not only educate young people about ethical behaviour but also instil a culture of accountability and civic engagement, aligning with the objectives of CERC and of United Nations (SDGs).
3. From 19 to October 23, 2021, CERC participated in the Anti-Corruption States General organised by the Ministry of Justice and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The purpose of the State-General was to diagnose the root causes of corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and propose recommendations for improvements.
4. In 2021, CERC launched an Innovative Technology for Reporting Corruption and Mismanagement in Education sector: The using of the EduCheck Mobile App by students to report school issues and fixes enhanced transparency and efficiency in addressing corruption-related concerns in the education sector. This approach aligns with UNODC’s emphasis on leveraging technology for anti-corruption measures and supports the UNCAC Coalition’s goals of implementing UNCAC provisions effectively through innovative solutions.
5. In 2023, CERC developed of CitizenEye Mobile App: The creation of the CitizenEye Mobile App, which allows citizens to report corruption, monitor projects, and engage in advocacy, directly contributes to UNODC’s and the UNCAC Coalition’s initiatives to empower citizens in combating corruption. This app promotes transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, critical aspects of both organisations’ anti-corruption strategies.
6. In 2023, CERC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with African Parliamentarians Against Corruption to support integrity reforms in public sectors. By signing a memorandum of understanding with the African Parliamentarians Against Corruption Network (APNAC) and outlining an agenda to reform the education sector, CERC aligns with UNODC’s and the UNCAC Coalition’s focus on collaboration with governmental and non-governmental entities to address corruption comprehensively. This partnership demonstrates a concerted effort to enact legislative changes that promote integrity and accountability in public sectors, which are central to the goals of both organisations.
7. In 2023, two multi-stakeholder Consultation Workshops were held in Kinshasa and Bukavu. Hosting a multi-stakeholder consultation workshop regrouping 97 policymakers to review policies, programs, and curricula related to integrity and anti-corruption in secondary schools reflects CERC’s commitment to inclusive and participatory approaches. This collaborative effort engages various stakeholders, including government officials, educators, and NGOs, in shaping anti-corruption strategies and fostering a culture of integrity within educational institutions.

CERC Representatives Mr Musa Nzamu (Programme Manager) and Heri Bitamala (CEO) attended the Tenth Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (CoSP) virtually, held in Atlanta, United States, from 11 to 15 December 2023. Their contributions focused on discussions regarding the nexus between corruption, financing crime, fueling conflicts in Eastern Congo, and strategies to mitigate these challenges.

In 2021, CERC, in collaboration with the UNCAC Coalition, produced the Civil Society Parallel Report on the implementation of provisions of Chapter II (Preventive Measures) and Chapter V (Asset Recovery) of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) by the Democratic Republic of the Congo. UNCAC Coalition. This report significantly contributed to the UNCAC implementation review process in its second cycle.

In 2022, CERC participated in trainings organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the evaluation mechanisms of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

In October 2021, CERC participated in the Anti-Corruption States General, which was organised conjointly by the DRC Ministry of Justice and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The purpose of the State-General was to diagnose the root causes of corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and propose recommendations for improvements.

1. CERC’s initiatives, aligned with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), have included inclusive professional training programs for 63 youth leaders from 9 youth-led organisations in Kinshasa, including organisations led by marginalised groups such as LGBTQI individuals and People Living with Disabilities. This holistic approach to skill development equips youth with practical capabilities and fosters inclusivity and empowerment within marginalised communities, contributing to a more equitable and inclusive society.
2. CERC has made significant contributions to SDG4 through its various initiatives. In 2022, CERC established 150 Integrity Clubs in South Kivu and Kinshasa, empowering 2250 students aged 14-19 to learn about integrity and monitor education services in their schools¹. They used our technology tool, “EduCheck”, to report issues and fixes¹. CERC also developed the CitizenEye Mobile App, which allows citizens to report corruption, monitor projects, and engage in advocacy efforts¹.
3. In contribution to SDG 16, In October 2021, CERC participated in the Anti-Corruption States-General, held by the Ministry of Justice. These meetings were organised as part of the “Projet d’Appui à la lutte contre la corruption en République démocratique du Congo” and aimed to make a complete diagnosis of the state of corruption and anti-corruption initiatives, to create a consensus on the priority actions to be taken and the reforms to be undertaken to achieve a significant and sustainable reduction of corruption in the DRC and to define the modalities of implementation as well as the follow-up mechanisms of recommendations from the States-General. Invited as an expert, CERC addressed corruption prevention, integrity education, and the use of technology to promote transparency and accountability in public service delivery.