Studies Centre for Social Action
 | |
| Abbreviation | CEPAS |
|---|---|
| Established | 1965 |
| Type | Social service center |
| Purpose | Promotion of just political and socio-economic development |
| Location |
|
Region served | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Official language | French |
Director | Fr. Alain Nzadi-a-Nzadi, SJ |
Research & animation | Fr. John P. Nyembo, SJ |
Editor | Pierre Akele Adau |
Development | Patrick Mavinga |
Main organ | Revue fr:Congo-Afrique |
Parent organization | Central African Province of Jesuits |
| Affiliations | Jesuit, Catholic |
Budget | US$180,000/year |
Staff | 14 |
| Website | CEPAS |
Studies Centre for Social Action (Centre d'Etudes pour l'Action Sociale), CEPAS, has since 1965, soon after independence, promoted equitable development in the Democratic Republic of Congo through its socio-economic and political studies. It is a development centre run by the Central African Province of the Society of Jesus in the Catholic Church.[1]
Aim and services
CEPAS has as its goal the promotion of justice, solidarity, and integral human development. It does this through on-site analysis, study, and action programs. It aims to strengthen the capacity of both formal and informal leadership in the country. This includes training of personnel, evaluation of existing programs, and help in strategic and operational planning. CEPAS is ready to assist all organizations that wish to improve their performance: NGOs, ASBLs, churches, embassies, development partners. CEPAS helps determine their relevance to peoples’ real needs and possibilities for collaboration, examines whether objectives are being met with concrete results and at reasonable cost, and evaluates strengths while suggesting improvements. Assessments may include how employees understand and exercise their functions, as well as input on organizational change and development.
Courses offered include accounting, management, and computer science. Modules are developed as the need arises. Support offered after consultation can include coaching, management consulting, and on-job training. In a constantly changing environment, CEPAS offers opportunities for ongoing reflection and continuous learning.[2]
The social animation sector of CEPAS links its studies to political society and civil society. It includes research, seminars, workshops, panel discussions, radio and TV programs, and publication of civic and voter education brochures.[3]
Currently the priority themes addressed by CEPAS include decentralization, accountability of public authorities, civic education, natural resource governance, peace and reconciliation, gender balance, and poverty reduction.
Support for CEPAS comes from Misereor (Germany), Carême (Switzerland), Alboan and Entreculturas (Spain). CEPAS collaborates with World Vision, OSISA and SARW (South Africa), the Carter Center (USA), Rodhecic, Episcopal Commission for Natural Resources, the DRC Ministry of Finance and Central Bank, and CADICEC.[4]
Library and publications
The CEPAS library contains nearly 23,000 titles and 1,100 issues of journals and periodicals. This includes material inherited from the colonial era (Official Bulletin of the Belgian Congo, Administrative Bulletin of the Belgian Congo, the geographical movement, the publications of the Academy of Overseas Sciences) as well as books on the humanities: history, geography, demography, social and cultural anthropology, sociology, economics, politics, law, and African literature.[5] It receives a large number of foreign and national journals acquired by subscription or by exchange for its own monthly magazine, Congo-Afrique.[6]
Besides its main publication Congo-Afrique, CEPAS publishes twice a year an account of lessons learned during its consultancy, and distributes this to a wider audience when deemed appropriate. It is prepared to publish the works of others in the field that would contribute to the sociopolitical, cultural, and economic development of the people of the Congo.[7] Articles in Revue Congo-Afrique show a distinct focus on governance in the mining sector, including a special issue in September 2007 on "Lutundula Report and the Governance Contract DRC government program," other issues on mining contracts, "The diamond pipeline and sustainable development" (2009), "Chinese contract analysis by Congolese experts" (March 2010), "Amendment proposals on the revision of the Mining Code" (May 2013), and "Contribution to the law proposal on the general scheme of hydrocarbons adopted by the National Assembly at the special session in December 2014" (February 2015).[4]
References
Coordinates: 4°18′31.03″S 15°17′0.95″E / 4.3086194°S 15.2835972°E