Strategy, ethics and organisation

Strategy

Vision of the AfricaMuseum

As a museum and research centre, the AfricaMuseum is a forum for study and dialogue on societies and the natural environment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The AfricaMuseum is a place of memory and tells the history of the colonial past but also works with and on the Africa of today and tomorrow.
The AfricaMuseum is committed to generating interest and promoting social involvement in the challenges of today and tomorrow.
The AfricaMuseum does not walk that path alone, instead building sustainable partnerships, in Belgium, in Europe and especially in Africa.

Mission of the AfricaMuseum

The vision of the AfricaMuseum is realised through attentive management of the collections in our care. Through our research, our collaborations and partnerships and with the organisation of exhibitions, events and education we widely share these collections and the knowledge and values they bring.
In its relationships with the public, and with youth and the African diaspora in particular, the AfricaMuseum aims to be accessible and inclusive.
As a forum for study, education and dialogue, the AfricaMuseum adopts a participatory approach, striving for co-creation.

Read the complete document.

Organisation

The Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) is one of Belgium's ten federal scientific institutes (FSI), under the authority of the Secretary of State for Federal Science Policy.

The museum has some 190 employees, including 50 scientists. 

The scientific institute is divided into four departments: 

  • Cultural Anthropology and History
  • Earth Sciences
  • Biology
  • Collections Management

> Discover our research
 

Management and consultative bodies

Financial Management Committee

It is responsible for the financial, material and administrative management of the institution, and serves the same function for the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. 

Chaired by a representative of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office, it is made up of four external members (university academics and management experts), the managing directors of each institution, and two representatives of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office.

Composition

Members with voting rights:

  • Frank Monteny, Director General, Belgian Federal Science Policy Office, Chairman
  • Bart Ouvry, Director RMCA, Vice-Chairman
  • Marcel Van Camp, Director RBINS, Vice-Chairman
  • Claude Bragard, Université de Louvain-La-Neuve
  • Alain Heynen Advisor General, Belgian Federal Science Policy Office
  • Jacques de Gerlache, Communications Manager, SOLVAY S.A.
  • Ingrid Vanden Berghe, Director General, National Geographic Institute of Belgium
  • Koen Verhoest, Professor, University of Antwerp - Department of Political Sciences

Members with advisory rights:

  • Bruno Danis, Chairman of the RBINS Scientific Council
  • Lieven Dejaeger, Inspector General of Finance
  • Pierre de Maret, Chairman of the RMCA Scientific Council
  • Yves Geens, Accountant RMCA
  • Brigitte Lauwaert, Head of Scientific Section, MUMM and RBINS
  • Jacques Lust, Secretary – Attaché, Belgian Federal Scientific Policy Office
  • Marie-Solange Mukarwema, Accountant, RBINS
  • Françoise Stassart, Financial expert, Belgian Federal Science Policy Office
  • Didier Van den Spiegel, Head of Section, RMCA
Scientific Council

Internal members:

  • Bart Ouvry, Director-General
  • François Kervyn de Meerendré, Head of Department a.i. Earth Sciences
  • Bambi Ceuppens, Scientific collaborator Culture and Society Service
  • Marc De Meyer, Head of Department a.i. Biology
  • Jacky Maniacky, Head of Department a.i. Cultural Anthrophology and History
  • Patricia Van Schuylenbergh, Head of History and Politics Service
  • Didier Van den Spiegel, Head of Department Collection Management

External members:

  • Inge Brinkman, UGent
  • Véronique Clette-Gabuka, ULB
  • Sandrine Collard, Rutgers University
  • Marie-Sophie de Clippele, UCL
  • Stijn Dewaele, UGent
  • Kirezi Kanobana, Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO)
  • Amandine Lauro, ULB 
  • Herwig Leirs, UAntwerpen
Director's Council

Composition

Chairman: Bart Ouvry, Director-General

Members with voting rights:

  • Bart Ouvry, Director-General
  • François Kervyn de Meerendré, Head of Department a.i. Earth Sciences
  • Bambi Ceuppens, Scientific collaborator Culture and Society Service
  • Marc De Meyer, Head of Department a.i. Biology
  • Jacky Maniacky, Head of Department a.i. Cultural Anthrophology and History
  • Patricia Van Schuylenbergh, Head of History and Politics Service
  • Didier Van den Spiegel, Head of Department Collection Management
Recruitment and Promotion Committee

The committee is responsible for the selection and promotion of statutory scientific staff.

It is chaired by a Federal Science Policy representative and is made up of two external experts from universities and the RMCA's Director-General.

Composition

  • Robert Van De Walle, President, Belspo
  • Bart Ouvry, Director-General, RMCA
  • Prof. Sara Geenen, University of Antwerp
  • Prof. Caroline Nieberding, Université catholique de Louvain
Staff Consultative Committee

This committee is an advisory body focusing on well-being at work and working conditions. It is made up of museum staff and workers’ organisations (unions). 

Composition

Management representatives:

  • Bart Ouvry, Chairman
  • Els Cornelissen
  • Marc De Meyer
  • Isabelle Gérard
  • François Kervyn de Meerendré
  • Kristien Opstaele
  • Valérie Herzet
  • Mario Thoilants
  • Johan Van Impe
  • Dirk Verbist
     

Union representatives:

CGSP – FGTB:

  • Valérie Demeulemeester

CSC – Public Services:

  • Kai Saillart
  • Patricia Van Schuylenbergh,  RMCA representative
  • Jean-Christophe Vancoppenolle

VSOA-Groep 2:

  • Jimmy Verlez

Prevention advisors:

  • Mario Thoilants
  • Johan Van Impe

Company Doctor:

  • Fabienne Nsanze

Code of ethics

The AfricaMuseum has a code of ethics to which all partners wishing to organize an event in or around the museum must adhere.

Gender equality plan and Diversity charter

As one of the 10 Federal Scientific Institutions under the competence of BELSPO, the Royal Museum for Central Africa subscribes to the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) as developed by our administration. The RMCA commits itself to carry out the actions proposed in the GEP, to give its staff access to the relevant training courses organised by the government (SELOR and IFA), to collect the necessary data and to make them public through the annual reports. The RMCA has developed a Diversity Charter (available in Dutch and in French) in this framework.

Peer review reports

Research activities

This report presents the results of the assessment of the research activities of the Royal Museum for Central Africa.

This assessment was conducted by Technopolis Group in the period April 2014 - March 2015. The report was commissioned by the Belgian Federal Scientific Policy Office (BELSPO).

Public-oriented services

This report presents the results of the assessment of the AfricaMuseum’s public-oriented services.

This assessment was carried out by the Technopolis Group in 2017. The report was commissioned by the Belgian Federal Scientific Policy Office (BELSPO).