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
PARTICIPANTS
STAFF
GLOBAL PROGRAMS
PARTICIPANTS
HOW WE’RE BUILDING A TRANSLOCAL NETWORK
HOW WE’RE BUILDING A TRANSLOCAL NETWORK
LATEST NEWS
WHAT’S HAPPENING
World Justice Forum 2025 | Warsaw, Poland 🌐 ⚖️
At this year’s World Justice ...Forum, our Co-CEO, Blair Glencorse moderated a pivotal plenary session titled: “Checks and Balances Under Threat: How Countervailing Institutions Can Make a Difference.”
The conversation was grounded in sobering data: The World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index reveals that constraints on government power have declined every year since 2017. In the latest report:
🟣 59% of countries saw a decline in constraints on government powers overall
🟣 68% of countries declined checks on government powers from non-government actors (like civil society, media, judiciary, etc.)
This session asked the hard questions:
What’s weakening oversight? How can institutions retain legitimacy in the face of political pressure and disinformation? And what practical steps can build resilience?
Panelists explored:
👉 Structural barriers like outdated legal frameworks, lack of transparency, limited independence, and underfunding of institutions
👉 Narrative battles where institutions are either discredited or misunderstood by the public
👉 The erosion of democracy by leaders who substitute delivery for legitimacy, often legalizing corrupt practices
👉 The power of “insider–outsider coalitions”, collaborations between oversight entities and civil society that improve feedback loops and public trust
👉 Strategic media engagement as a tool to generate demand for reform
👉 And the critical role of young people in driving systemic change
🗣️ Blair brought lessons from our global network, emphasizing that accountability is not only built through institutions but through the power of people and purpose. As he noted, “we all need to be citizens, not just individuals.”
The session featured Camilo Benítez Aldana (Comptroller General of Paraguay), Alyson Kilpatrick (Chief Commissioner, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission), Utaara Mootu (Member of Parliament, Namibia), and Roby Senderowitsch (Governance Global Practice Manager, World Bank).
📸 Swipe through for a few highlights!
#WJF2025
World Justice Forum 2025 | Warsaw, Poland 🌐 ⚖️
At this year’s World Justice ...Forum, our Co-CEO, @blairglencorse moderated a pivotal plenary session titled: “Checks and Balances Under Threat: How Countervailing Institutions Can Make a Difference.”
The conversation was grounded…
📢 The first of our three webinars on legal considerations for mergers and partnerships is ...happening this Thursday! As part of our efforts to facilitate mergers and partnerships, Development Gateway, Accountability Lab and Digital Public - with the support of the International Senior Lawyers Project - are hosting a three-part webinar series focused on Kenya, the United Kingdom and the United States to equip teams, boards and legal advisors with practical advice to navigate key legal considerations.
Many organizations are unclear about certain legal aspects necessary for informed and transparent decision-making regarding compliance and governance. The first webinar, focused on Kenya, will clarify the process. It takes place on Thursday, June 26, at 5pm EAT/ 10am ET. Register here to attend this free event - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_K_drmyqDSMCuk_eHHsDlQg
Our volunteer lawyers speaking include Candice Kola, Shirleyne Kasili and Sharon Manoah of Ashitiva Advocates, and Mary Waithira at Waithira M. & Co. Advocates.
Young anti-corruption champions from across countries and regions are taking the 2023 UN Convention... Against Corruption Youth Roadmap off the page and into communities.
Regional consultations will soon engage young people at the grassroots to understand how corruption affects their daily lives, collect stories, practices, and policy ideas directly from youth across regions, and build evidence for a future white paper that will be presented at the next UNCAC CoSP11 in December 2025.
AL Liberia's (Integrity Icon Liberia) Parnneh Mallobe and Accountability Lab Nepal's Prekkshya Bimali – both members of the YouthLED Integrity Advisory Board – reflect on being part of a cohort of young people taking practical steps to combat corruption including a for youth, by youth guide, and exchanging ideas and building strategies to combat it across countries and regions.
👓 Learn more here:
In April 2025, we joined 27 other passionate young anti-corruption leaders in Vienna, Austria, for the YouthLED Integrity Advisory Board...
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Join our virtual side-event during the 2025 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development ...!
“Resilience, Adaptation & Transformation: Local Voices reclaiming SDG16+”
📅 Thursday, July 17, 8-9:30am EDT / 2-3:30pm CEST | Online
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/2025VoicesofSDG16
📢 Announcing our first webinar on legal considerations for mergers and partnerships!
...Navigating mergers and strategic partnerships involves complex compliance requirements and governance considerations. Many organizations are unclear about some of the legal aspects, including tax implications, necessary for well-informed and transparent decision-making.
As part of our efforts to facilitate mergers and partnerships, Development Gateway, Accountability Lab and Digital Public are hosting a three-part webinar series focused on Kenya, the United Kingdom and the United States to equip teams, boards and legal advisors with practical advice to navigate key legal considerations. The first webinar, focused on Kenya, will take place on Thursday, June 26, at 5pm EAT/ 10am ET.
Register here to attend this free event - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_K_drmyqDSMCuk_eHHsDlQg
Speakers include Candice Kola, Partner at Ashitiva Advocates, Sharon Manoah, Senior Associate at Ashitiva Advocates, Shirleyne Kasili, Associate at Ashitiva Advocates, and Waithira Mugo, Partner at Waithira M. & Co. Advocates.
📢 Announcing our first webinar on legal considerations for mergers and partnerships!
...Navigating mergers and strategic partnerships involves complex compliance requirements and governance considerations. Many organizations are unclear about some of the legal aspects, including…
🗣️ We're adding our voice to the dialogue with international decision-makers and CSOs ...from around the world at the OECD - OCDE Civil Society Days.
By listening and sharing, we hope to impact development policies and deepen the dialogue between governments, international…
🎧 “The development sector has changed irrevocably. What comes next?”
We’re ...excited to share this episode of The Youth Bloom podcast by CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies, featuring our Co-CEOs Blair Glencorse and Cheri-Leigh Erasmus in conversation with host Catherine Nzuki.
In this 28-minute conversation, they unpack what shifting power, funding, and leadership really look like in practice and reflect on what it takes to build more accountable, inclusive systems in a rapidly changing world.
📍 It’s a timely discussion rooted in lessons from our global network and the broader questions shaping the future of development.
🎙️ Listen here https://www.csis.org/podcasts/youth-bloom or on your preferred platform below:
🔗 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4jZni57
🔗 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4e9NEA4
🔗 Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/45nFxh3
#TheYouthBloom #CSIS #AccountabilityLab #DevelopmentSector #ShiftThePower #Localization #CivicLeadership #FutureOfAid #GlobalDevelopment #AidReimagined
By 2050, one in four people on the planet will be African. By the same year, one in every three young people in the world will be African. This is...
www.csis.org
🗣️ We're adding our voice to the dialogue with international decision-makers and CSOs ...from around the world at the OECD - OCDE Civil Society Days.
By listening and sharing, we hope to impact development policies and deepen the dialogue between governments, international organizations, and civil society.
AL's Sheena Adams will be sharing as part of the "Strengthening CSO Accountability to Counter Shrinking Civic Space" session at 16:15 CEST (10:15 ET)
💬 Conversations are ongoing today, so register here and drop in anytime: https://bit.ly/4jUXlU8
🎧 “The development sector has changed irrevocably. What comes next?”
We’re ...excited to share this episode of The Youth Bloom podcast by @CSIS, featuring our Co-CEOs @blairglencorse and Cheri-Leigh Erasmus in conversation with host Catherine Nzuki.
In this 28-minute…
Over the past year, Accountability Lab’s global network has harnessed the power of local ...leadership and collective action to strengthen accountability across sectors, systems, and societies. From civic tech in Kosovo to creative advocacy in Zimbabwe, the Lab has continued to build trust, shift norms, and strengthen governance through proximity and collaboration.
👓 Read the full report here: https://bit.ly/4jOWLrg
#AccountabilityLab #AnnualReport2024 #OpenGov #CivicAction #ShiftingNorms #HackCorruption #Voice2Rep #CivicCharge #IntegrityIcon
Over the past year, Accountability Lab’s global network has harnessed the power of local ...leadership and collective action to strengthen accountability across sectors, systems, and societies. From civic tech in Kosovo to creative advocacy in Zimbabwe, the Lab has continued to…
📢 The funding model that has shaped civil society for decades is under strain, and with it, the ...space for local leadership, collective action, and sustained impact.
In the latest episode of the AccountabiliTea Podcast, AL Co-CEO Cheri-Leigh Erasmus is joined by colleagues from across our network – Beloved Chiweshe (Accountability Lab Zimbabwe), Sadia Khan (Accountability Lab South Africa), Doussouba Konaté (Accountability Lab Mali), Narayan Adhikari (Accountability Lab Nepal), Fayyaz Yaseen (Accountability Lab Pakistan), and Ana Laura Lozano (Accountability Lab Mexico) – as they reflect on the real impact of shifting aid: from layoffs and paused programs to reimagined partnerships and homegrown solutions.
Anaoffered this insight: "This dependence on external funding has made the sector vulnerable. The challenge and the opportunity are to reshape our ecosystem in ways that are more equitable and sustainable. It’s time to stop talking and start walking."
🎧 Tune in to the full episode of the Accountability Podcast:�
🔗 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4mt9Jxc
🔗 Spotify: https://bit.ly/4jkC5qF
📢 The funding model that has shaped civil society for decades is under strain, and with it, the ...space for local leadership, collective action, and sustained impact.
In the latest episode of the AccountabiliTea Podcast, AL Co-CEO Cheri-Leigh Erasmus is joined by colleagues from…