Caritas Congo is a nonprofit organisation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the official aid organisation of the Congolese Catholic Church with a presence all over the country.

Caritas Congo
Established1960
TypeNonprofit
Legal statusAssociation sans but lucratif ("non-profit association")
Headquarters26 avenue Basoko Gombe
Location
Coordinates4°18′32″S 15°19′27″E / 4.30889°S 15.32428°E / -4.30889; 15.32428
OriginsCatholic Social Teaching
Region served
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fieldsdevelopment aid, humanitarian aid, education, health
Secretary General
Edouard Makimba Milambo
President
Mgr Dieudonné Uringi
AffiliationsCaritas Internationalis, Caritas Africa
Revenue (2023)
USD 20,3 million[1]
Staff (2023)
62 (national secretariat)[1]
Websitewww.caritasdev.cd

The organisation is a member of the global Caritas Internationalis confederation and of the regional Caritas Africa.[2]

Background and structure

edit

Caritas Congo was founded in 1960 by the Congolese Bishops Conference (CENCO) with the mission to improving the lives of individuals and communities as a whole, according to the social doctrine of the Church. The organisation was registered in 1964 and restructured in 1993.[2][3][4]

Caritas Congo consists as the national office, the Secrétariat exécutif ("Executive Secretariat"), and acts as a federation of 48 diocesan offices spread throughout the country. These organisations are called Caritas-Développement diocésaines ("Diocesan Caritas Development"). The 48 diocesan offices are divided into around 1,500 parish Caritas and more than 10,000 local units (cellules, "cells").[1]

Work

edit

Caritas Congo is active in emergency relief while also providing medical services and implementing community development projects. In a context in which The DRC is sometimes described as a failed state, Caritas Congo provides more than 41% of all education services in the country.[5][6]

The Executive Secretariat coordinates the work of all 48 diocesan Caritas organisations and represents them. It is also responsible for capacity strengthening and advocacy.[1]

In 2023, Caritas Congo supported 2,5 million persons with a budget of 20.3 million US dollars. The main areas of activity were prevention and emergency response projects, health promotion projects and projects promoting sustainable development.[1]

Literature

edit
  • Caritas Congo asbl: Origines, étapes historiques, réalisations, défis et perspectives, Dr. Bruni Miteyo Nyenge, ICREDES, Kinshasa, Montréal, Washington[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e "Rapport annuel 2023 de la Caritas Congo Asbl : Caritas Congo Asbl a servi diversement 2,4 millions personnes vulnérables en 2023". ReliefWeb. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Where we work: Congo (DRC)". caritas.org. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Caritas Congo ASBL (DR Congo)". developmentaid.org. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  4. ^ "CARITAS Congo asbl". peuplesautochtones.cd. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Caritas Congo". educationaboveall.org. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  6. ^ Brandt, Cyril; De Herdt, Tom. "Reshaping the Reach of the State: The Politics of a Teacher Payment Reform in the DR Congo". Journal of Modern African Studies. 58(1): 23–43. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  7. ^ "CARITAS CONGO ASBL: Origine, étapes historiques, réalisations, défis et perspectives". Institut Congolais de Recherche en Développement et Etudes Stratégiques (ICREDES). Retrieved 29 April 2024.
edit