Accountability Lab is a global translocal network that makes governance work for people by supporting active citizens, responsible leaders and accountable institutions. Our goal is a world in which resources are used wisely, decisions benefit everyone fairly, and people lead secure lives.
Accountability Lab is a global translocal network that makes governance work for people by supporting active citizens, responsible leaders and accountable institutions. Our goal is a world in which resources are used wisely, decisions benefit everyone fairly, and people lead secure lives.
WHAT WE DO
Accountability Lab’s flagship training program for young change-makers to build sustainable, effective tools for change.
A global campaign powered by citizens in search of exemplary government officials.
A pioneering community feedback and dialogue platform to ensure accountability in the development process.
Supportive, impactful member networks and co-working spaces for small and big nonprofits.
A conscious music campaign supporting musicians who advocate for greater representation, participation and accountability.
Channelling civil society voices into high-level decision-making at the C20, G20, and the Open Government Partnership for stronger accountability and open government.
NETWORK LABS
STAFF
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GLOBAL PROGRAMS
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HOW WE’RE BUILDING A TRANSLOCAL NETWORK
HOW WE’RE BUILDING A TRANSLOCAL NETWORK
LATEST NEWS
WHAT’S HAPPENING
We’re excited to host an important conversation at the Open Gov Hub on Wednesday, December 3 at 6:00 PM!
Join us as we welcome Severin Wirz, author of Bribery Beyond Borders, for a deep dive into the history, impact, and future of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). He’ll be in ...conversation with Gary Kalman, Director at Transparency International US.
Nearly 50 years after its passage, the FCPA is at a crossroads. Bribery Beyond Borders reveals how the U.S. became the first country to criminalize corporate bribery outside its borders and how it continues to shape today’s global fight against corruption.
Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation and the opportunity to engage directly with the author.
In-person registration: https://bit.ly/4inx7uD
Join virtually: https://bit.ly/43Myop0
We hope to see you there!
Restructure, Reduce, Renew: How Nonprofits Can Survive the Moment and Preserve the Work
HackCorruption Convening - 2025
How do organizations liberate themselves from donor funds and develop homegrown endowments in sustainable ways? This was one of the big questions at PeaceConnect, a gathering in Nairobi that attracted more than 300 activists and their allies from around the world. Attendees considered solutions for... ODA disruptions, studied digital ceasefires, and remade engagement frameworks for peace.
The assembly was organized by Peace Direct and focused on facilitating collaborative action, eschewing the usual complaints about talk shops and embracing an agenda that met the moment with courage and pragmatism.
We heard about partners like Plan International buying into “reverse calls for proposals” and how local endowments were being built from modest land investments. We wrote about a few stories from the conference that stood out - link in our bio.
@wacsi_org @adesoafrica @planinternational @kcdf_ #PeaceConnect2025 #PeaceConnect
How do organizations liberate themselves from donor funds and develop homegrown endowments in sustainable ways? This was one of the big questions at PeaceConnect, a gathering in Nairobi that attracted more than 300 activists and their allies from around the world. Attendees considered solutions for... ODA disruptions, studied digital ceasefires, and remade engagement frameworks for peace. The assembly was organized by Peace Direct and focused on facilitating collaborative action, eschewing the usual complaints about talk shops and embracing an agenda that met the moment with courage and pragmatism.
A thread of sessions that reimagined the resourcing of civil society ran through the week. We heard about partners like Plan International buying into “reverse calls for proposals” and how local endowments were being built from modest land investments. Here are a few stories from the conference that stood out.
West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) Kenya Community Development Foundation Nyakasanga Development Community Foundation - NYAKU

In one room, a booming Degan Ali from Adeso was sharing practical steps to follow for community organizations as the “Western rule based...
accountabilitylab.orgHow do organizations liberate themselves from donor funds and develop homegrown endowments in sustainable ways? This was one of the big questions at PeaceConnect, a gathering in Nairobi that attracted more than 300 activists and their allies from around the world. Attendees…
In one room, a booming Degan Ali from Adeso was sharing practical steps to follow for community organizations as the “Western rule based...
This year, from International Democracy Day in Brussels to the @opengovpart Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz, one message came through clearly: inclusion isn’t a side note, it's the main event.
Across panels and conversations, leaders reminded us that young people and women aren’t…
This year, from International Democracy Day in Brussels to the @opengovpartnership Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz, one message came through clearly: inclusion isn’t a side note, it's the main event.
Across panels and conversations, leaders reminded us that young people and women ...aren’t just “future” stakeholders – they’re already shaping democratic spaces today. Yet the gap between civic energy and institutional power is still far too wide.
From reflections on belonging and access, to metaphors that show how democracies can’t function when whole groups are sidelined, to powerful calls for real power-sharing, the message was consistent: Representation alone isn’t enough. Systems must respond.
As Shally Baloch writes in her new piece, inclusion isn’t a policy box to tick. It’s a culture built through mentorship, intergenerational dialogue, resources, and institutions willing to truly listen – and share power.
🔗 Read the full blog via the link in our bio.
#AccountabilityLab #InternationalDemocracyDay #OGP2025 #Democracy #Governance #Inclusion #YouthLeadership #Participation #CivicPower #OpenGovernment #GlobalVoices
In conversations about democracy and governance this year – from International Democracy Day in Brussels to the Open Government Partnership Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz – one message kept surfacing: inclusion isn’t a side note, it's the main event.
Leaders across sectors shared a ...clear truth: young people and women are not just stakeholders in our democracies, they are shaping them every day. Yet the gap between civic energy and institutional power remains wide.
From Namibia’s Deputy Minister Emma Theofelus reflecting on belonging and access; to Dr Tasnim Jara's use of a metaphor explaining that representation is not just about fairness but rather about the functionality of the entire system; to calls from Elisabeth Agbiti-Douglas and Santiago Barrail for real power-sharing and action – the message was consistent: Representation isn’t enough. Systems must actually respond.
As Shally Baloch writes in this thoughtful reflection, inclusion is not a policy box to tick. It’s a culture that requires mentorship, intergenerational dialogue, resources, and institutions willing to listen and share power.
Read the full blog here: 🔗 https://bit.ly/49S5mb3
#AccountabilityLab #InternationalDemocracyDay #OGP2025 #Democracy #Governance #Inclusion #YouthLeadership #Participation #CivicPower
