What Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection does

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) is a Lusaka, Zambia-based non-profit organization founded in 1988. It produces policy research, tracks cost of living, and delivers civic education and advocacy services, primarily serving Zambian audiences and engaging with Southern African policy issues more broadly. The organization operates with 11-50 staff and is associated with the global Jesuit network, including documented affiliation with the Jesuit Refugee Service.

Its activities center on three functional pillars: policy research publications, systematic cost-of-living measurement (a notable niche service in Zambia), and civic education combined with advocacy. The cost-of-living tracking function is particularly distinctive, providing ongoing empirical data on household economic conditions that informs both public debate and policy engagement. No commercial revenue model, product suite, technology platform, or pricing structure is disclosed in available sources; financing is consistent with a donor-supported non-profit operating under Jesuit institutional auspices.

The organization's operating footprint is concentrated in Zambia, with no disclosed geographic expansion beyond Southern Africa. No management team, leadership changes, funding events, regulatory actions, M&A activity, partnerships beyond the Jesuit network reference, technology stack, or app/online platform details are documented in the available data. The corporate website (jctr.org.zm) returned only a loader/verification screen during data collection, limiting visibility into current programs, publications, and strategic posture. As a result, much of the firm's current operational and strategic detail is not verifiable from the input sources.

Name

Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection

Website

https://jctr.org.zm

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection is a Lusaka, Zambia-based non-profit founded in 1988 that produces policy research, tracks cost of living, and provides civic education and advocacy, serving Zambian and broader Southern African audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Policy Research and Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious Organizations (8131), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations (BPAGAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Cost of living tracking
• Civic education
• Social advocacy
• Theological reflection

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Core offering

Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection produces policy research, monitors the cost of living through its Basic Needs Basket tool, and delivers civic education and advocacy on social and economic justice issues. It engages Zambian citizens, communities, and policymakers through publications, workshops, and advocacy campaigns rooted in Jesuit social teaching.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Research Independent research and publication of policy analysis on social and economic justice issues, produced for Zambian policymakers, civil society, and the general public.
• Basic Needs Basket (Cost-of-Living Tracker) A periodic cost-of-living measurement tool that estimates the household expenditure required to afford a basic basket of essential goods and services in Zambia, published for citizens, media, and policymakers.
• Civic Education Workshops, seminars, and educational materials that build citizens' understanding of their rights, governance processes, and social and economic justice issues in Zambia.
• Advocacy Campaigns Public advocacy on social and economic justice issues, engaging citizens and policymakers to influence governance, poverty reduction, and rights-related outcomes in Zambia.

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jesuit Refugee ServiceOthersThe Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is referenced in connection with the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection as a related Jesuit organization. JRS operates refugee assistance programs and was documented helping host 140 displaced people from multiple countries at St. Joseph Tabaris Parish in Beirut during Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Both organizations share the Jesuit affiliation, though the specific nature of any formal partnership between JCTR and JRS is not detailed in the available sources.

Recent moves2 records

Direct peers

• Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD): A Zambian independent policy research think tank producing research on economic governance, livelihoods, and social policy. CPD is a domestic peer operating in the same policy research space, often addressing cost-of-living and governance issues similar to JCTR.
• Jesuit Institute South Africa (JISA): A Jesuit research and advocacy organization based in South Africa working on governance, ethics, and social justice. JISA is the closest regional peer — sharing the Jesuit identity and a similar research-and-advocacy model — and serves as a potential cross-border collaborator.
• Zambia Council for Catholic Bishops (ZCCB): The national conference of Catholic bishops in Zambia, which issues pastoral letters, policy positions, and civic education. ZCCB operates in the same faith-based policy advocacy space in Zambia and frequently collaborates with Jesuit institutions.
• Caritas Zambia: Zambian Catholic social justice and development agency delivering community programs, advocacy, and policy engagement. Caritas Zambia is the most direct operational peer to JCTR in Zambia, sharing both faith-based identity and a policy/social-outreach mandate.

Regional players

• Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA): A Jesuit-affiliated academic institution in East Africa engaged in theological and social research. CUEA shares the Jesuit identity and produces research relevant to faith, ethics, and policy — a peer in the religious research space.

Broad incumbents

• Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI): A pan-African think tank producing research on economic policy, governance, and development. APRI overlaps with JCTR's research themes at a continental level and represents a broader-scale comparator for an organization aspiring to regional influence.
• Jesuit Refugee Service: A global Jesuit-affiliated organization delivering refugee assistance and advocacy. JCTR shares the Jesuit identity and is referenced alongside JRS in available data; both operate within the same faith-based humanitarian and advocacy ecosystem.

Others

• Society of Jesus – Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JESAM): The regional Jesuit governance body coordinating Jesuit works across Africa. JESAM is an ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor, providing institutional support and coordination across member organizations such as JCTR.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jctrorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jesuit-centre-for-theological-reflection-jctr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection