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INTERNAL REGULATIONS OF COGEX (Congo is Great and Demands Greatness from Us)

PREAMBLE

These Internal Regulations complement and clarify the Statutes of COGEX – International Think Tank, an independent, non-partisan and non-profit strategic institution dedicated to governance, excellence, civic responsibility, human rights, justice, policy innovation, consultancy and strategic incubation for the transformation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Inspired by the founding vision:

“Congo is Great and Demands Greatness from Us”

COGEX is conceived as:

  • a strategic think tank;

  • an incubator of transformative ideas;

  • a platform for policy analysis and civic leadership;

  • a framework for diaspora consultation and strategic monitoring;

  • a center for governance, justice, reform and institutional excellence.

  • a mechanism for strategic national reflection and institutional stabilization.

These Internal Regulations define the rules governing:

  • institutional organization;

  • internal governance;

  • ethics and discipline;

  • operational functioning;

  • financial management;

  • coordination between national and international structures.

  • relations among governing organs;

  • strategic and doctrinal coherence.

They are binding upon all members, governing bodies and affiliated structures of COGEX.

Purpose

These Internal Regulations determine the practical modalities for implementing the Statutes, particularly regarding:

  • governance and functioning of institutional bodies;

  • membership procedures;

  • ethics and discipline;

  • financial and administrative management;

  • intellectual production and strategic coordination;

  • consultance and incubation programs;

  • human rights and justice initiatives;

  • diaspora coordination and international engagement.

  • relations between governance organs;

  • institutional oversight and accountability.

INSTITUTIONAL NATURE AND INDEPENDENCE

COGEX is:

  • independent;

  • non-partisan;

  • non-confessional;

  • nonprofit;

  • intellectually autonomous.

COGEX:

  • does not support political parties or electoral agendas;

  • produces analyses based on strategic, scientific, ethical and institutional standards;

  • preserves its neutrality and credibility at all times.

No member may use COGEX for:

  • personal enrichment;

  • political manipulation;

  • tribal or ethnic instrumentalization;

  • ideological extremism;

  • institutional sabotage.

All institutional actions shall pursue the public interest, republican governance and national cohesion.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in COGEX is:

  • voluntary;

  • individual;

  • based on adherence to the institutional vision, doctrine and values.

Membership applications may be submitted electronically or in writing.

Applications are reviewed by the Executive Office, which may:

  • approve;

  • defer;

  • suspend;

  • reject applications for justified reasons.

The Executive Office may conduct verification procedures regarding competence, integrity or compatibility with institutional values.

CATEGORIES OF MEMBERS

COGEX comprises the following categories of members:

Founding Members

Effective Members

Supporting Members

Honorary Members

Associate Experts and Advisors

FOUNDING MEMBERS

Founding Members are persons who participated in the establishment of COGEX and in the adoption of its founding Statutes.

They shall:

  • safeguard the founding vision;

  • participate in doctrinal and strategic orientation;

  • exercise the prerogatives provided for by the Statutes;

  • guarantee the moral and institutional continuity of the organization.

EFFECTIVE MEMBERS

Effective Members regularly participate in the institutional activities of COGEX.

They may:

  • participate in consultations and institutional work;

  • join working groups and technical divisions;

  • propose projects and initiatives;

  • exercise internal responsibilities.

The maintenance of Effective Member status depends on:

  • commitment;

  • institutional discipline;

  • effective contribution;

  • compliance with the Statutes and these Internal Regulations.

SUPPORTING MEMBERS

Supporting Members are natural or legal persons who provide moral, technical, material or financial support to COGEX.

They may participate in:

  • consultations;

  • institutional events;

  • partnerships and cooperation activities.

HONORARY MEMBERS

The title of Honorary Member may be granted by the Board of Directors to any individual who has rendered distinguished service to the nation or to the mission of COGEX.

Honorary Members:

  • benefit from special institutional recognition;

  • may be invited to institutional activities and strategic consultations;

  • do not automatically exercise executive or decision-making functions.

The title is essentially honorary in nature.

ASSOCIATED EXPERTS AND ADVISORS

Associate Experts and Advisors are individuals recognized for their expertise in fields related to the mission of COGEX.

They may contribute particularly in the following areas:

  • governance;

  • public policy;

  • economics;

  • geopolitics;

  • justice and human rights;

  • diplomacy;

  • security;

  • innovation and development.

They may:

  • participate in strategic and technical work;

  • produce analyses and recommendations;

  • be consulted by institutional organs;

  • contribute to institutional publications and projects.

Their appointment or collaboration shall be approved in accordance with internal procedures.

COMMON PRINCIPLES

All members are required to:

  • comply with the Statutes and these Internal Regulations;

  • preserve the reputation and integrity of COGEX;

  • act in accordance with the values of excellence and responsibility;

  • avoid any political, tribal, ethnic or personal instrumentalization of the institution.

RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

Members in good standing have the right to:

  • participate in institutional activities;

  • contribute to research and strategic analysis;

  • propose initiatives and projects;

  • access non-confidential institutional information;

  • participate in consultations and working groups;

  • vote where applicable under institutional procedures;

  • represent COGEX upon official authorization;

  • submit recommendations to institutional organs.

No member may claim exclusive authority over institutional positions outside authorized mandates.

DUTIES AND ETHICS OF MEMBERS

Members undertake to:

  • respect the Statutes and Internal Regulations;

  • preserve the credibility and reputation of COGEX;

  • uphold excellence, merit and integrity;

  • avoid conflicts of interest;

  • demonstrate intellectual rigor and discipline;

  • refrain from political, tribal, ethnic or personal instrumentalization;

  • preserve institutional confidentiality where applicable;

  • promote the founding vision of national greatness and responsibility.

Members shall conduct themselves in a manner compatible with:

  • republican ethics;

  • institutional dignity;

  • professional responsibility;

  • national cohesion;

  • respect for human rights and democratic principles.

FOUNDERS’ ASSEMBLY

The Founders’ Assembly is the supreme moral and doctrinal authority of COGEX.

It:

  • safeguards the founding vision;

  • protects institutional integrity;

  • ensures continuity of doctrine and mission;

  • exercises moral arbitration in strategic matters;

  • preserves institutional identity and philosophical orientation.

The Founders’ Assembly may issue advisory opinions on major institutional or strategic questions.

Meetings may be held:

  • physically;

  • virtually;

  • or in hybrid format.

Decisions and recommendations of the Founders’ Assembly shall carry high moral and doctrinal authority within the institution.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The General Assembly is the broad consultative and participatory organ of COGEX composed of members in good standing.

It serves as:

  • a framework for institutional consultation;

  • a forum for strategic dialogue and orientation;

  • a platform for presentation of institutional activities and reports;

  • a mechanism for reinforcing transparency, cohesion and collective participation.

The General Assembly may:

  • receive institutional reports;

  • discuss strategic orientations;

  • formulate recommendations;

  • examine institutional priorities;

  • propose amendments or initiatives through appropriate channels.

The General Assembly does not replace the strategic governance responsibilities of the Board of Directors nor the operational authority of the Executive Office unless otherwise provided in the Statutes.

Ordinary sessions may be convened annually, while extraordinary sessions may be convened when necessary by:

  • the Board of Directors;

  • the Executive Office;

  • or the Founders’ Assembly.

Meetings may be held physically, virtually or in hybrid format.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors is the strategic governance body of COGEX.

It is responsible for:

  • strategic orientation;

  • institutional supervision;

  • policy oversight;

  • approval of major partnerships;

  • validation of institutional priorities;

  • adoption of institutional programs;

  • oversight of governance standards.

The Board may:

  • establish ad hoc committees;

  • appoint advisors and experts;

  • commission strategic reports;

  • authorize institutional missions;

  • approve strategic cooperation frameworks.

The Board ensures institutional coherence between the founding doctrine and operational action.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

The Executive Office ensures:

  • daily administration;

  • operational management;

  • implementation of institutional programs;

  • coordination of departments and branches;

  • preparation of institutional reports;

  • execution of strategic decisions.

It operates under the supervision of the Board of Directors.

The Executive Office shall ensure:

  • institutional continuity;

  • administrative efficiency;

  • coordination of projects and partnerships;

  • communication between institutional organs.

The Executive Office may establish technical units where necessary.

RESEARCH, POLICY AND STRATEGIC DIVISIONS

COGEX may establish specialized divisions in areas including:

  • Governance and Institutional Reform;

  • Public Policy and Strategic Affairs;

  • Human Rights and Justice;

  • Consultancy and Strategic Incubation;

  • Youth and Innovation;

  • Diaspora Affairs and International Cooperation;

  • Strategic Communication and Advocacy;

  • Peace, Security and Geopolitical Affairs;

  • Economic Development and Strategic Investment.

These divisions may function permanently or temporarily according to institutional priorities.

Each division shall:

  • operate under institutional supervision;

  • produce reports and recommendations;

  • coordinate with the Executive Office;

  • contribute to strategic intellectual production.

NATIONAL, DIASPORA AND INTERNATIONAL BRANCHES

Branches may be established by decision of the Board of Directors.

They:

  • operate in alignment with the institutional vision;

  • coordinate with the Executive Office;

  • submit periodic activity reports;

  • comply with institutional governance standards.

Diaspora branches play a strategic role in:

  • comparative analysis;

  • international networking;

  • expertise mobilization;

  • policy consultation and monitoring;

  • advocacy and strategic engagement.

International branches shall preserve the institutional neutrality and reputation of COGEX in all jurisdictions.
ETHICS, DISCIPLINE AND AUDIT COMMISSION

The Ethics, Discipline and Audit Commission is an independent institutional oversight organ responsible for:

  • ethical compliance;

  • disciplinary review;

  • integrity monitoring;

  • institutional accountability;

  • internal audit functions.

The Commission may investigate allegations involving:

  • misconduct;

  • abuse of authority;

  • corruption;

  • conflicts of interest;

  • violation of institutional principles;

  • misuse of institutional resources.

Sanctions may include:

  • warning;

  • suspension;

  • removal from responsibilities;

  • permanent exclusion.

The Commission shall ensure:

  • due process;

  • impartiality;

  • confidentiality;

  • institutional fairness.

Recommendations of the Commission shall be transmitted to the competent governing organs for implementation.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Financial management is based on:

  • transparency;

  • accountability;

  • traceability;

  • institutional responsibility;

  • prudent administration.

Financial commitments and expenditures require appropriate authorization procedures.

Institutional resources may originate from:

  • membership contributions;

  • lawful donations;

  • grants;

  • consultancy activities;

  • publications;

  • partnerships compatible with institutional independence.

No funding may compromise the independence, neutrality or integrity of COGEX.

Accounts may be subject to:

  • internal audits;

  • external audits;

  • independent financial reviews.

Financial reports may be presented periodically to competent institutional organs.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION

Members entrusted with confidential information shall preserve institutional confidentiality.

No official communication may be issued in the name of COGEX without authorization from competent bodies.

Institutional publications must respect:

  • intellectual rigor;

  • neutrality;

  • factual accuracy;

  • ethical standards;

  • professional responsibility.

Public statements made on behalf of COGEX must reflect official institutional positions and not personal opinions.

Institutional logos, documents and platforms may not be used without authorization.

MEETINGS, DELIBERATIONS AND DIGITAL FUNCTIONING

Institutional organs may operate through:

  • physical meetings;

  • virtual meetings;

  • hybrid sessions;

  • secure digital communication platforms.

Electronic deliberations and approvals may be recognized where necessary for operational continuity.

Minutes and institutional records shall be preserved in appropriate digital or physical archives.

Voting procedures may be determined according to the nature of the organ and applicable institutional procedures.

INTERPRETATION

Any difficulty regarding interpretation of these Internal Regulations shall be resolved by the Board of Directors in conformity with:

  • the Statutes;

  • the founding doctrine;

  • the institutional mission of COGEX;

  • principles of institutional coherence and good governance.

The Founders’ Assembly may provide moral and doctrinal guidance on interpretative matters affecting institutional identity.

AMENDMENTS

These Internal Regulations may be amended according to procedures established by the Statutes.

Proposals for amendment may originate from:

  • the Founders’ Assembly;

  • the Board of Directors;

  • the Executive Office;

  • the General Assembly through formal recommendation procedures.

No amendment may contradict the founding principles and institutional identity of COGEX.

FINAL PROVISIONS

These Internal Regulations:

  • complement the Statutes without replacing them;

  • enter into force immediately upon adoption;

  • apply to all institutional structures and members;

  • remain binding unless amended according to statutory procedures.

All institutional organs, representatives and affiliated structures are required to ensure faithful implementation of these Regulations in pursuit of the mission and vision of COGEX – International Think Tank.