CIRE

What CIRE does

CIRÉ (Coordination et Initiatives pour Réfugiés et Étrangers) is a Belgian nonprofit association (asbl) founded in 1955 and headquartered at Rue du Vivier 80-82 in Ixelles, Brussels. The organization operates as a multi-service center rather than a technology platform, delivering direct socio-legal services to asylum seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants in Belgium. Core services include the Accueil & Permanences sociojuridiques (general reception and legal guidance), an École de français providing free French as a Foreign Language courses via volunteer instructors, Service Logement for housing support, Travail, Équivalences et Formations (TEF) for employment access and credential recognition, dedicated reception structures for asylum seekers, and information sessions on foreigners' law.

CIRÉ's business model is donation- and public-support-funded: services are provided free of charge, and revenue is not publicly disclosed. Institutional backing comes from the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles alongside individual donations via its website. The organization does not sell products, charge fees, or operate APIs or digital platforms; distribution is direct via its Brussels offices, on-site information sessions, and increasingly through website-hosted publications, newsletters (a general and a legal newsletter), and social media channels.

Beyond service delivery, CIRÉ is a major policy advocacy and strategic litigation actor. It coordinates "état des lieux" state-of-reception reports with a 7-NGO consortium, has secured over 8,800 court convictions against the Belgian state for non-compliance with asylum reception obligations, and obtained authorization to seize 2.9 million euros from Fedasil. It is a central node in coalitions spanning 50+ Belgian/European NGOs and 209+ international organizations, and operates under Director Sotieta Ngo with a headcount of 101–250.

Name

CIRE

Legal name

Coordination et Initiatives pour Réfugiés et Étrangers (CIRÉ)

Website

https://cire.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CIRÉ is a Belgian nonprofit association founded in 1955 that delivers free socio-legal, housing, French-language, and employment services to asylum seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants in Belgium, while leading policy advocacy and strategic litigation on migration rights.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee and migrant social services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)

Keywords

• Refugee support services
• Asylum legal aid
• Migration policy advocacy
• French language training
• Humanitarian nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels (Ixelles)

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and public support: CIRÉ receives donations from individuals and the public to support its activities. The organization maintains a donation page on its website.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CIRÉ is a Belgian non-profit organization that provides free direct services to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, including socio-legal reception, French as a Foreign Language classes, housing support, and employment/diploma-equivalence assistance. It complements these front-line services with policy advocacy, strategic litigation, and coalition coordination aimed at influencing Belgian and European migration policy. Activities are funded by donations and public support, and the organization operates with 101–250 employees from its Brussels headquarters.

Product overview

CIRÉ (Coordination et Initiatives pour Réfugiés et Étrangers) is a non-profit advocacy organization that provides direct services to migrants and refugees in Belgium. The organization operates as a multi-service center rather than a technology product, offering reception and socio-legal assistance, French language education (École de français), housing support, employment and training services, and policy advocacy. Key services include Accueil & Permanences sociojuridiques (general reception and legal guidance), Travail Équivalences et Formations (TEF for employment and credential recognition), information sessions on foreigner's rights law, and an Espace écrivain public for administrative writing assistance. The organization also conducts research publications, educational tools, public awareness campaigns, and advocacy initiatives to influence Belgian and European migration policies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accueil & Permanences sociojuridiques Walk-in reception and socio-legal assistance providing guidance and support to migrants and refugees on administrative and legal matters at CIRÉ's Brussels office.
• École de français (FLE) Free French as a Foreign Language (FLE) courses for adult migrants and refugees, taught by volunteer instructors at CIRÉ's Brussels premises.
• Service Logement Housing assistance helping migrants and refugees in Belgium find and access stable housing solutions.
• Plaidoyer Politique Policy advocacy and political lobbying activities aimed at influencing Belgian and European migration policies to protect refugee and migrant rights.
• Accueil des demandeur·euses d'asile Reception services for asylum seekers providing guidance through the asylum procedure and ensuring access to rights under Belgian and international law.
• Travail, Équivalences et Formations (TEF) Employment, diploma equivalences, and training services helping migrants access the labour market and have their foreign qualifications recognized.
• Séances d'information en droit des étrangers Information sessions on foreigner's rights law covering residence permits, family reunification, student visas, and rights of people in precarious situations.
• Espace écrivain public (avec PAC) Public writing services hosted at CIRÉ in partnership with PAC (Présence et Action Culturelles), offering free assistance with administrative correspondence and document writing every Wednesday.

Quantifiable outcome

• Part of consortium that has obtained authorization to seize 2.9 million euros from Fedasil to support asylum seekers left without reception
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

50 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BelRefugees (Plateforme citoyenne)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2024Part of collective NGO action to seize Fedasil's accounts. Joint litigation partner in defending asylum seekers' rights to reception.
• Samusocial.BrusselscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2023CIRÉ partners with Samusocial in the Sans Papiers Sans Droits Sans Abri campaign addressing homelessness among undocumented migrants in Brussels. The campaign includes photographic exhibition and policy recommendations.
• Médecins du MondecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint campaign partner addressing healthcare access for undocumented migrants. Collaborates on state-of-reception reports and policy advocacy.
• L'ilotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in addressing homelessness and providing support to undocumented persons in Brussels.
• Brussels Platform ArmoedecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner focused on poverty issues affecting migrants and undocumented persons in Brussels.
• Vluchtelingenwerk VlaanderencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch-speaking counterpart in collective legal actions against Belgian state for asylum reception failures. Collaborates on policy reports.
• Amnesty International Belgique FrancophonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signatory of joint declarations on migration policy including the EU Return Regulation rejection and Frontex deployment opposition.
• CNCD-11.11.11coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Belgian development NGO network, co-signatory on multiple migration policy positions and campaigns.
• Ligue des Droits HumainscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian human rights organization, joint author of note on domiciliary visits (visites domiciliaires) law proposal.
• Caritas InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatholic humanitarian organization, part of consortium publishing regular state-of-reception reports and joint policy positions.
• CSC (Confédération des Syndicats Chrétiens)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBelgian Christian trade union, co-signatory of migration policy positions and joint events.
• FGTB (Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBelgian socialist trade union, partner on joint events and policy statements regarding migrant workers.
• MOC (Mouvement Ouvrier Chrétien)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerChristian workers movement, co-signatory of policy positions on migration.
• JRS Belgium (Jesuit Refugee Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJesuit refugee service, partner in policy advocacy and asylum rights campaigns.
• MRAX (Mouvement contre le Racisme, l'Antisémitisme et la Xénophobie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnti-racism organization, coalition partner in migration advocacy.
• ADDE (Association pour le droit des étrangers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal association for foreigner's rights, frequently co-signs policy positions and legal analyses.
• SAAMOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial cultural organization, part of anti-poverty network and migration policy coalition.
• MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical humanitarian organization, part of consortium publishing state-of-reception reports documenting healthcare impacts.
• Hub HumanitairecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian coordination hub in Brussels, provides emergency services referenced in CIRÉ's reports on asylum reception crisis.
• Centre AvecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian social organization, co-signatory of migration policy positions.
• CEPAG (Centre d'Éducation Populaire André Genot)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPopular education center, part of Walloon migration policy coalition.
• SB OverseasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport organization for overseas populations, co-signatory of policy statements.
• Mouvement Présence et Action Culturelles (PAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner organization. PAC's public writer (écrivain public) spaces are hosted at CIRÉ's offices from January 2025. PAC coordinates over 200 volunteer sessions for literacy support.
• Le Monde des PossiblesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial organization, part of migration policy coalition.
• Les Équipes Populaires asblminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPopular education organization, part of coalition.
• L'Olivier 1996minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial integration organization, coalition partner.
• Mentor - EscaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth support organization, part of migration policy coalition.
• CINL - Centre des Immigrés Namur-LuxembourgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional migration center, part of coalition.
• ConvivialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial organization, coalition partner.
• DisCRI asblminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional integration centers support organization, coalition partner.
• CSP - Centre Social ProtestantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtestant social center, coalition partner.
• SESO - Service social des SolidaritésminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial solidarity service, coalition partner.
• Service social juifminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish social service, coalition partner.
• SETM asbl - Solidarité Étudiants du MondeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent solidarity organization, coalition partner.
• UPJB - Union des Progressistes Juifs de BelgiqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewish progressive union, coalition partner.
• BePaxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeace and citizenship organization, coalition partner.
• Cap Migrants asblminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMigration support organization, coalition partner.
• Point d'Appui asblminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial support organization, coalition partner.
• FAIRWORK BelgiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFair work organization, co-signatory of family reunification constitutional challenge.
• Aide aux personnes Déplacées asblminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisplaced persons support organization, coalition partner.
• La Ligue des FamillesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily rights organization, co-signatory of campaign against family separation in migration policy.
• Coordination des sans-papiers de BelgiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination body representing undocumented migrants, CIRÉ supports their advocacy and campaigns including cartography project.
• NANSENminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee support organization, partner in collective legal action.
• Ordre des Barreaux Francophones et GermanophoneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBar association, partner in legal action for asylum seeker rights.
• Fédération Wallonnie-BruxellescoreOthersWallonia-Brussels Federation provides institutional support funding to CIRÉ asbl.
• Coordination Coalition MOVEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIRÉ is member of MOVE coalition which coordinated advocacy against Taliban cooperation for Afghan returns.
• Refugee Committee of AfghanistanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner in MOVE coalition, co-signatory of statements on Afghanistan returns.
• 11.11.11coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian North-South solidarity organization, part of 209-organization joint declaration against EU Return Regulation.
• Plateforme citoyenne BelRefugeescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil society platform supporting refugees, coalition partner in multiple campaigns.
• Jeist Refugee Service BelgiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJesuit refugee service, partner in asylum policy advocacy.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ADDE (Association pour le droit des étrangers): Belgian legal association specializing in foreigner's rights law; frequently co-signs policy positions and legal analyses with CIRÉ — most directly comparable legal-aid specialist peer.
• Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen: Direct Dutch-speaking counterpart providing refugee support and advocacy in Flanders; explicitly partnered with CIRÉ on collective legal actions against Fedasil and joint state-of-reception reports — same mission, complementary language/regional coverage.
• Ligue des Droits Humains: Belgian human-rights umbrella organization; co-authors legal analyses (e.g., domiciliary-visits law note) with CIRÉ and engages in similar strategic litigation — comparable advocacy function and Belgian policy focus.
• Amnesty International Belgique Francophone: French-speaking Belgian section of Amnesty International; co-signatory with CIRÉ on EU Return Regulation rejection and Frontex opposition — directly comparable human-rights advocacy role in Belgium.
• Médecins du Monde Belgium: Belgian branch of international humanitarian/medical NGO; provides healthcare access for undocumented migrants and co-publishes state-of-reception reports with CIRÉ — overlapping beneficiary base and joint advocacy campaigns.
• JRS Belgium (Jesuit Refugee Service): Jesuit-affiliated refugee service providing accompaniment, shelter, and advocacy in Belgium; explicit coalition partner with CIRÉ in asylum-rights campaigns — similar beneficiary-facing service plus policy advocacy.
• MRAX (Mouvement contre le Racisme, l'Antisémitisme et la Xénophobie): Belgian anti-racism movement and coalition partner with CIRÉ in policy positions on migration and integration; similar size and operational model focused on Belgium.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas International Belgium: Major Belgian Catholic humanitarian organization; part of CIRÉ's state-of-reception consortium and broader humanitarian portfolio — larger scope than CIRÉ but overlapping advocacy and direct-service delivery.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (Belgium): Belgian section of international medical humanitarian organization; co-publishes state-of-reception reports with CIRÉ documenting healthcare impacts — much larger scale but overlapping humanitarian-advocacy function in Belgium.

Regional players

• Samusocial Brussels: Brussels emergency social services; partner with CIRÉ in Sans Papiers Sans Droits Sans Abri campaign addressing homelessness among undocumented migrants — overlapping mission but Brussels-municipal scope rather than national.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cireasbl
• Facebookfacebook.com/lecireasbl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cire
• Instagraminstagram.com/cireasbl/?hl=fr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIRE