As I prepare to transition from my role as Country Director at Accountability Lab Mali, I find myself filled with deep gratitude and reflection. This journey has been one of purpose, growth, and connection, with incredible people and communities who continually remind me why integrity, empathy, and collaboration matter so profoundly in the work we do.

Discovering Strength Through Community

When I look back, I’m most proud of the community we built together, a team bound not just by a shared mission, but by a genuine sense of belonging and belief in change. Through countless brainstorming sessions, “Pause and Reflect” retreats, and community dialogues, we created spaces where ideas could flourish and people could lead with authenticity.

One of the initiatives closest to my heart has been Voice – Empower, a platform amplifying the voices of people living with disabilities, especially women and youth living with disabilities who are too often unheard in Mali’s civic space. Their courage to speak truth to power reminds me that real transformation begins when people see themselves as agents of change.

Representing young people from Mali and across the Sahel has also been a defining part of my leadership. Whether in global forums, discussions with President Barack Obama, or high-level panels, my message has remained the same: the youth of the Sahel are not a challenge to be solved, but an opportunity to be embraced. Investing in them means investing in the continent’s future, and its present.

And when our organization faced a severe financing crisis in early 2025, I witnessed extraordinary resilience. While many NGOs were forced to close their doors, our team’s unity and creativity kept our mission alive. That moment showed me what collective strength truly means.

Dreaming of What Could Be

From the very beginning, my leadership journey was guided by a dream: to help people understand that they deserve better, and they have the power to create it. Growing up in a family that valued education and service, I learned that knowledge and empathy are two of the most powerful tools for change.

At Accountability Lab, I’ve sought to make governance accessible, to bring citizens into the conversation, and to build systems of feedback that allow communities to express themselves and shape the policies that affect their lives. My vision has always been one where citizens are active participants, not passive observers, where accountability is not imposed from above, but grown from within.

As I step away, I remain cautiously optimistic for the future. The situation in Mali is complex, security, socio-economic, and political challenges persist, but I see a new generation of leaders emerging: resilient, creative, and deeply connected to their communities, ready to take on these difficult realities. My hope for the next decade is that Accountability Lab Mali continues fostering civic engagement where possible, strengthening citizen feedback mechanisms, supporting integrity icons across the Sahel, and nurturing leaders who understand that governance is a shared responsibility, even in the face of persistent obstacles.

Designing for Resilience and Growth

Throughout my tenure, I learned that positive change is built on INCLUSION and trust. My approach to leadership has always centered on creating opportunities for others to grow, encouraging team members to take the lead, pursue global fellowships, and represent our work regionally and internationally.

We even transformed our internal systems, adjusting HR policies to provide paid days for professional development. Seeing colleagues evolve, then being selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship, gaining expertise in peacebuilding or girls’ education, has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.

By empowering others, we strengthened our collective capacity to innovate and endure. Collaboration, adaptability, and care for one another became the foundation of our work.

Leaving a Legacy of Purpose

As I close this chapter, I carry forward invaluable lessons. Leadership begins with self-awareness, knowing your strengths, acknowledging your limits, and taking time to reflect. It’s about creating impact not through control, but through empowerment.

The people who have inspired me most, my father and my uncle, both of whom recently passed, taught me that leadership is service. My father, through his quiet dedication to improving healthcare in Kayes, and my uncle, through his humanitarian work across Africa, modeled humility, courage, and generosity. Their memory will forever guide my steps.

To those stepping into leadership: Lead with clarity and conviction. Know what drives you, stay grounded in your values, and never lose sight of the people at the heart of your mission. Success is not measured by titles or accolades, but by the lives you touch and the systems you help transform.

As I move forward, I remain deeply connected to Accountability Lab’s mission and to the incredible community that made this journey so meaningful. Together, we’ve proven that accountability, empathy, and hope can thrive even in the most challenging times, and that when people believe in their own power, there is no limit to what they can achieve.

Doussouba Konate