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PREAMBLE

Aware of the historical, social, political, economic, and institutional challenges facing the Democratic Republic of the Congo since its independence in 1960,

Inspired by the ideals of dignity, sovereignty, responsibility, and national greatness embodied by the founding fathers of independence, particularly Patrice Emery Lumumba,

Convinced that the sustainable transformation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo begins with a transformation of mindsets and depends on investing in its human capital and promoting education, knowledge, excellence, merit, integrity, innovation, and civic responsibility,

Further convinced that the development of a nation requires mobilizing the skills, talents, and expertise of its citizens, youth, and diaspora, while creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and the emergence of responsible leadership,

Determined to contribute, through research, education, dialogue, strategic thinking, and strategic partnerships, to the emergence of a new generation of citizens, professionals, experts, entrepreneurs, and leaders committed to serving the Nation,

We, the Founding Members, hereby establish an independent, non-partisan, and nonprofit civic organization known as:

COGEX – International Think Tank

“Congo Is Great and Demands Greatness from Us.”

NAME – HEAD OFFICE – DURATION

Name

An organization hereby established under the name:

COGEX – International Think Tank

“Congo Is Great and Demands Greatness from Us.”

Head Office

The headquarters of the organization shall be established in the United States of America and may be transferred by decision of the Board of Directors upon approval of the Founders’ Assembly.

COGEX may establish:

  • national branches;

  • diaspora branches;

  • international representations;

  • liaison and coordination offices;

in accordance with the Internal Regulations.

Duration

The organization is established for an unlimited duration.

VALUES – VISION – MISSION – OBJECTIVES

Core Values

COGEX is founded upon the following values:

  • Integrity

  • Excellence

  • Merit

  • Transparency

  • Social Justice

  • Responsibility

  • National Greatness

  • Institutional Accountability;

  • Patriotism;

  • Human Dignity.



Vision

To establish COGEX as a leading strategic think tank contributing to the transformation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo into a State grounded in excellence, justice, accountability, institutional stability and responsible governance.

Mission

The mission of COGEX is to:

  • raise civic awareness and educate citizens;

  • promote good governance and institutional reform;

  • produce strategic analyses and policy recommendations;

  • support structural and institutional reforms;

  • promote justice, human rights and republican ethics;

  • unite diaspora expertise and national elites;

  • advocate for the Congo on the international stage;

  • encourage innovation, leadership and civic excellence;

  • contribute to strategic reflection on national stability and development;

  • promote the understanding and pursuit of national greatness.

General Objective

To make COGEX a platform for reflection, strategic action, policy innovation and incubation of transformative initiatives grounded in excellence, merit, institutional responsibility and the promotion of national greatness.

Specific Objectives

COGEX specifically aims to:

  • promote constructive public debate;

  • Encourage, strengthen, and promote knowledge, innovation, and expertise through strategic partnerships with universities, research centers, public and private institutions, international organizations, and other relevant institutions;

  • train responsible civic and strategic leaders;

  • develop public policy proposals;

  • support institutional and governance reforms;

  • strengthen democratic culture and civic responsibility;

  • develop national and international partnerships;

  • encourage diaspora consultation and strategic monitoring;

  • support peace, stability and institutional cohesion.

Foundational Doctrine

National greatness requires continuous preparation, education, competence, excellence, integrity and responsibility in the management of public affairs.

COGEX rejects:

  • tribalism;

  • institutional corruption;

  • extremism;

  • political manipulation;

  • all forms of discrimination and hatred.

MEMBERSHIP
Categories of Members

COGEX shall consist of:

  • Founding Members;

  • Full Members;

  • Supporting Members;

  • Honorary Members;

  • Expert Associates and Advisors.

Admission

The conditions and procedures for admission, suspension or exclusion of members shall be defined by the Internal Regulations.

Membership shall be based on:

  • adherence to institutional values;

  • competence;

  • integrity;

  • commitment to the mission of COGEX.

ORGANIZATION

FOUNDERS’ ASSEMBLY

Nature

The Founders’ Assembly is the supreme moral and doctrinal authority of the organization and guardian of its founding vision.

Responsibilities

The Founders’ Assembly shall:

  • safeguard the founding doctrine and mission;

  • preserve institutional integrity;

  • provide strategic and moral orientation;

  • exercise advisory and arbitration authority on major institutional matters;

  • protect the long-term identity and vision of COGEX.

Exceptional Co-option of Co-Founders

The Founders’ Assembly may, on an exceptional basis and through a reasoned decision, co-opt an individual as a Co-Founder or Associate Founding Member in recognition of eminent services rendered to the organization, its vision, or its institutional development. The practical modalities of co-option shall be defined in the Internal Regulations.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Nature

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

Responsibilities

The General Assembly shall:

  • receive institutional reports;

  • discuss strategic orientations;

  • formulate recommendations;

  • examine institutional priorities;

  • participate in institutional consultations;

  • deliberate on amendments and dissolution according to these Statutes.

The General Assembly shall not replace the strategic governance powers of the Board of Directors nor the operational authority of the Executive Office.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nature

The Board of Directors is the strategic governing body of the organization.

Composition

The Board of Directors shall consist of:

  • Chairperson of the Board

  • Vice-Chairperson

  • Board Secretary

  • Treasurer

  • Senior Strategic Advisors

  • Board Members.

Senior Strategic Advisors are members of the Board of Directors appointed on the basis of their expertise, professional experience, and demonstrated competence in strategic fields relevant to the mission of COGEX. Each Senior Strategic Advisor is responsible, within their area of specialization or proven expertise, for contributing to strategic direction, institutional reflection, and oversight of activities falling within their respective portfolio. In this capacity, they fully participate in the deliberations and decisions of the Board of Directors, provide advice and recommendations, monitor matters within their area of responsibility, and may be entrusted by the Board with specific assignments or responsibilities.

The Board of Directors may also establish standing or ad hoc committees and appoint, whenever necessary, experts, consultants, or resource persons to support its work.

Responsibilities

The Board of Directors shall:

  • define strategic orientations;

  • supervise the Executive Office;

  • approve partnerships and collaborations;

  • validate institutional priorities;

  • oversee governance standards;

  • ensure compliance with the organization’s vision and principles.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE

Nature

The Executive Office is the operational and administrative management body of the organization.

Composition

The Executive Office may consist of:

  • Executive Director;

  • Director of Programs;

  • Administrative and Finance Director;

  • Director of Communications;

  • Head of Research and Public Policy;

  • other technical or operational officers as necessary.

Responsibilities

The Executive Office shall:

  • implement decisions of the Board of Directors;

  • manage programs and institutional activities;

  • produce analyses, reports and recommendations;

  • coordinate branches and technical divisions;

ensure operational continuity and administrative management.

RESEARCH, POLICY AND STRATEGIC DIVISIONS

Nature

The Research, Policy and Strategic Divisions are specialized technical and intellectual units established to advance the mission of COGEX through research, policy analysis, strategic dialogue, institutional innovation, advocacy and knowledge production.

The Board of Directors may establish, merge, reorganize or dissolve divisions in accordance with institutional priorities.

Areas of Focus

The Divisions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Governance and Institutional Reform

Promotes constitutional governance, democratic institutions, public sector modernization, accountability, institutional resilience and the rule of law.

2. Public Policy and Strategic Affairs

Conducts policy research, strategic foresight, institutional analysis and evidence-based policy recommendations on national and international issues.

3. Human Rights, Justice and Rule of Law

Promotes human rights, access to justice, judicial reform, constitutionalism, democratic values and the protection of fundamental freedoms.

4. Civic Engagement and Democratic Participation

Strengthens civic education, citizen participation, democratic culture, public dialogue and responsible leadership.

5. Peace, Security and Geopolitical Affairs

Analyzes peacebuilding, conflict prevention, national security, regional stability, strategic diplomacy and geopolitical developments affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Africa.

6. Economic Development and Strategic Investment

Promotes sustainable economic development, private sector growth, investment strategies, industrial transformation and sound economic governance.

7. Diaspora Affairs and International Cooperation

Mobilizes diaspora expertise, promotes international partnerships, comparative policy research and global institutional engagement.

8. Leadership, Innovation and Emerging Technologies

Promotes ethical leadership, institutional innovation, digital transformation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, research excellence and emerging technologies for sustainable development.

9. Strategic Communication, Public Affairs and Advocacy

Develops institutional communication, strategic advocacy, public diplomacy, stakeholder engagement, media relations and dissemination of research and policy recommendations.

10. Strategic Consultancy and Institutional Incubation

Provides strategic advisory services, organizational development, institutional capacity-building, governance consulting and incubation of innovative public policy and institutional reform initiatives.

ETHICS, DISCIPLINE AND AUDIT COMMISSION

Nature

The Ethics, Discipline and Audit Commission is an independent institutional oversight body.

Responsibilities

The Commission shall:

  • conduct internal audits;

  • ensure ethical compliance;

  • monitor institutional integrity;

  • investigate disciplinary violations;

  • verify institutional conformity;

  • produce periodic oversight reports.

The Commission shall guarantee due process, impartiality and confidentiality.

NATIONAL, DIASPORA AND INTERNATIONAL BRANCHES

Nature

COGEX may establish national, diaspora and international branches in accordance with the Internal Regulations.

Responsibilities

The branches shall:

  • operate in alignment with the institutional mission;

  • coordinate with the Executive Office;

  • contribute to strategic engagement and outreach;

  • submit periodic activity reports.

Diaspora branches shall contribute particularly to:

  • international networking;

  • expertise mobilization;

  • policy consultation;

  • strategic monitoring and advocacy.

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Resources

The resources of COGEX shall include:

  • membership contributions;

  • donations, grants and sponsorships;

  • consultancy and research activities;

  • publications and training programs;

  • partnerships approved by the Board of Directors;

  • any lawful resources compatible with institutional independence.

Financial Management

Financial management shall be governed by the principles of:

  • transparency;

  • accountability;

  • traceability;

  • institutional responsibility;

  • independent auditing.

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

AMENDMENTS – DISSOLUTION

Amendments

These Statutes may be amended by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Board of Directors and approval of the Founders’ Assembly.

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

Dissolution

The dissolution of the organization shall be decided by the General Assembly through a qualified majority vote following mandatory consultation with the Founders’ Assembly.

Transfer of Assets

In the event of dissolution, the organization’s assets shall be transferred to another nonprofit institution pursuing similar objectives.

No distribution of assets among members shall be permitted.

FINAL PROVISIONS

Establishment of Organizational Bodies

The Founding Members shall establish the initial governing bodies on a transitional basis.

Initial appointments and organizational arrangements shall be conducted in accordance with the Internal Regulations.

Implementing Provisions

Any matters not expressly provided for in these Statutes shall be governed by:

  • the Internal Regulations;

  • decisions of competent institutional organs;

  • internal regulatory instruments and policies.

Entry Into Force

These Statutes shall enter into force immediately upon their adoption by the Founders’ Assembly.

SIGNATURES

Done in Washington, on __________________

By the Founding Members of:

COGEX – INTERNATIONAL THINK TANK

“Congo Is Great and Demands Greatness from Us”

FOUNDERS’ ASSEMBLY

Signatures: ___________________________