Who decides, and to whom.
The coalition publishes the composition of its bodies, their mandate and their chain of accountability. Names and portraits will be added as appointments are made.
The founder
Mr. Role
Founder and President
To supplyReserved for the founder's message. Two or three sentences, first person, on what made him start the coalition.
To supplyBiography, background and vision: content to be supplied.
The chain of accountability
Five bodies, one sovereign. Each holds a written mandate and answers to another — none supervises itself.
BCR's governance refers to the internal governance of the organization. BCR does not exercise governmental or diplomatic authority over Belgium, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United States, or any other state.
Board of DirectorsSovereign body
The coalition's sovereign body. No decision committing the budget, the strategy or the membership is taken anywhere else.
- Answers to
- The general assembly of members, once a year.
- Decides
- Annual budget, strategic direction, admission and exclusion of institutional members, appointment of the executive.
- Composition
- Directors appointed in equal number by both countries. Three-year term, renewable once.
Executive Direction
Runs the programmes day to day and carries out what the Board has voted. It does not arbitrate strategy; it implements it.
- Answers to
- The Board of Directors, at every sitting.
- Decides
- Programme delivery, hiring, spending commitments within the voted budget.
- Composition
- An executive director and the leads of the eight domains of action.
General Secretariat
Coordinates the offices, prepares the sittings and keeps the institution's written record.
- Answers to
- The executive direction.
- Decides
- Convening and minuting the bodies, coordinating the national offices, institutional relations.
- Composition
- A secretary general and the focal points of each national office.
Treasury
Keeps the accounts and publishes them. It reports directly to the Board, bypassing the direction whose spending it checks.
- Answers to
- The Board of Directors, and an independent external auditor.
- Decides
- Accounting, preparation of the annual audit, publication of the financial report.
- Composition
- A treasurer and an audit firm outside the coalition.
International Advisory Council
Informs decisions without taking any. Its opinions are advisory and published, including when they are set aside.
- Answers to
- No body. Its opinions are advisory and public.
- Decides
- Opinions on direction, research programmes and partnerships. Advisory voice, never deliberative.
- Composition
- Academic, business and cultural figures from both countries and the diaspora.
National representations
- Belgium
- DR Congo
- United States
- Europe
- Africa
To supplyTo be supplied: names, roles and portraits of appointed members