Promoting accountability and transparency are at the heart of our work
We're holding ourselves accountable for the successful delivery of services to everyone in our partner districts, of the countries where we work. In this way we ensure that our work on systems strengthening does indeed lead to improved water, sanitation and hygiene service delivery.
By doing so, our work and strategy align with the principles set out in the Agenda for Change partnership of which we are a founding member.
IRC is registered at the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce The Hague (Kamer van Koophandel Haaglanden): registration number (CCI): 41151952
VAT – Number: The VAT – number of IRC is NL800441734B01
IRC is a public benefit organisation, which means in Dutch 'Algemeen nut beogende instelling' (ANBI) and registered under RSIN: 800441734
IRC is a 501(c)3 equivalency non-profit organisation with a certification from NGOsource.
IRC is an NGO registered as a Foundation under Dutch Law. It has an oversight model of governance, consisting of a Supervisory Board and a Chief Executive Officer. The Supervisory Board has a role at some distance from daily operations, it approves the annual plan and budget, the annual report and accounts. Operational responsibility rests with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). IRC is committed to a management model based on participation and joint decision making. A Global Works Council elected by and representing IRC staff has a legal regulated advisory or approval authority and meets regularly with the CEO.
2021 was the final year of our medium term strategic plan (as part of IRC’s Strategy Framework 2017-2030). In August 2021, we launched together with Water For People, a US based NGO the Destination 2030 strategy. This joint strategy is now the basis of the One For All alliance, (an alliance of IRC, Water For People and the NGO Water for Good) and includes shared outcomes, a shared results framework and monitoring indicators, and joint impact targets. IRC has translated that into an IRC Medium Term Strategy Framework – 2022 to 2025.
Our current and past strategies are guiding our work until 2030 and frame our contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, and particularly Goals 6.1 and 6.2: Universal provision of water and sanitation services. The strategies built on the lessons we have learned over the past 15 years of supporting systems strengthening in our focus countries.
Read our 2024 programme, monitoring and financial reports.
For the reports of previous years, please visit our annual reports page
On 31 December 2024, we had 98 staff members, including eight staff members who we host for other organisations (six for Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) and two for the Agenda for Change Secretariat). In addition IRC had 26 programmatic associates. The combined workforce of 124 people had a physical presence in more than 20 countries 70% of staff members reside in the Global South and 30% in the Global North.
Of the 98 staff members, 46 identified as female and 52 as male. Although we’re close to a 50/50 balance if it comes to the number of staff, in the levels of work, we can see a small imbalance in the roles of drivers; cleaners and facilitators, as well as at officer level and in senior management.
Our senior management consists of:
The IRC Code of Conduct and the IRC Protection Against Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Policy are setting out the rules of conduct to which IRC employees, employer, members of the supervisory board, associates, consultants, interns, young professionals and volunteers must adhere. The Code of Conduct applies at all times whether in or outside normal working hours or locations. Violations of the code can be subject to disciplinary measures. PSEA initiatives include staff obtaining UNICEF PSEA certificates, having designated Trust Persons that people can turn to, an established working group, improved policies, and bilingual accessibility of relevant information. We're aiming to comply with global standards, including mediation support.
IRC's External Complaint Policy has been put in place to ensure that all our external stakeholders, donors and partners globally have a clear and accessible means to make a formal complaint about IRC and have it dealt with.
In 2020 IRC committed to starting an internal dialogue and a review of our diversity performance (read more). Review recommendations have been taken forward into new policies and internal governance systems. In 2024 we continued to make good progress in the decentralisation of power, in preparation for the creation of a federated network organisation of independent national members during 2025. We created a new internal management structure – the Directors Platform – drawn from the Directors of our country programmes and Dutch office. At the same time, we also created a Secretariat to support these Directors, led by our CEO and the heads of business development, communications, strategy and administration. We also started work on a rebranding process, preparing for the formal launch of the network in 2026.
IRC's statement on Equity, diversity and inclusion
We believe that safe and secure water and sanitation services are a gateway to justice and opportunity for all people. This truth powers our mission. We believe in diversity, in our teams and in the people with whom we engage, as we work towards this mission. We commit to actively reflect, learn, improve, promote and invest in a culture that supports diversity, justice, equity and inclusion. We are committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and we will strongly advocate and promote the realisation of human rights in all that we do. We will not engage in or tolerate any breach of human rights by our staff or associates.
At IRC, we recognise our environmental footprint, especially in greenhouse gas emissions, and we're committed to achieve our ambitious goal to cut GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 (by FTE from a 2019 baseline). For this, we have a comprehensive policy and action plan:
We're dedicated to a sustainable future and will inspire others to join us.
