Civic Charge is Accountability Lab’s global learning programme that brings together changemakers strengthening accountability within their communities. Unlike fellowships built around deliverables, Civic Charge is designed as a learning accelerator – a space for reflection, skills-building, and peer connection, where leaders can step back from the urgency of doing and invest in how they are growing.

Over the past two years, Programs & Learning Manager, Jaco Roets, has guided this journey with a steady, thoughtful approach – building a community where ideas are tested, values are practiced, and leadership is strengthened through honesty, care, and shared experience. Each session moves beyond theory, grounding learning in practical tools that fellows can use immediately: refining how they communicate, strengthening how they design and manage projects, and widening the networks they rely on for support and collaboration.

Fellows from the 2024 and 2025 cohorts span 15+ countries and fields ranging from digital rights to climate justice. What they share is a belief that accountability is not abstract. It lives in daily choices: how we listen, how we show up, how we build inclusive systems. What follows is a snapshot of how Civic Charge fellows are strengthening accountability in their own contexts, and what their work reveals about leadership rooted in people, place, and purpose.

Accountability through digital rights

As more of our public lives shift online, Civic Charge fellows are stepping up to ensure these digital spaces remain places where people can participate meaningfully, stay safe, and access information they can trust.

In Bangladesh, Musharrat Mahera marked a major milestone with the launch of the Civic Defenders web portal,  a year-long collaboration by VOICE and The Daily Ittefaq, with support from ARTICLE 19, Free Press Unlimited, and the European Union. The platform tackles gendered disinformation and expands access to credible civic information, showing that digital accountability is as vital as any public institution. Mahera also shared her experience on the AccountabiliTea Podcast, joining UN Special Rapporteur Gina Romero to discuss how shifting political landscapes shape activism, and how young people navigate safety, voice, and dissent. Listen to the episode here. 

Nigeria’s Cynthia Ifeoma Obinwanne completed the AI and Career Empowerment Certificate Program at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business,  a milestone that strengthens her work at TalkLove Africa Foundation, where digital skills are opening pathways for women and girls to participate more confidently in online spaces. Also from Nigeria, Blessing Agu, Founder of Startup Tech Ladies and Community Manager at DEAN Initiative, continued experimenting with digital tools and low-barrier platforms to connect young people to civic opportunities, using Linktree, Carrd, and Wix to make information more accessible to emerging changemakers. Her work reflects a practical approach to accountability: meeting young people where they already are, and making it easier for them to step in, participate, and lead.

From Cameroon, Divine Ela deepened her leadership through digital storytelling and advocacy, and was selected as one of 50 global fellows for the Vital Voices Visionaries Programme. Divine also delivered closing remarks during the 3rd Session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on the Tax Convention, speaking on behalf of the Financing for Development: Children and  Youth Constituency. Her message was clear and uncompromising: “The clarity and progress we seek must ensure that the system works for everyone, not just the few… Young people insist that the collaboration from this meeting will ensure that negotiations are not only substantive but decisive.” Divine’s work demonstrates how young leaders are shaping global debates with both conviction and a commitment to fairness – ensuring that international processes reflect the realities and needs of the communities most affected.

Accountability through justice and healing

Some of the most meaningful forms of accountability emerge through personal growth, self-reflection, and the willingness to confront difficult truths.

In Pakistan, Shahzad Chaudhry marked a defining professional milestone after winning his first-ever case before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a precedent-setting judgment in service law. His reflection underscored the discipline, mentorship, and perseverance required to pursue justice. Another 2024 fellow, Sameer Ali Khan, Founder of Collective Pakistan & Safar Buddies, and author of the book titles, Untold Stories of Pace Activists in Pakistan, which documents voices that often remain unheard within the national narrative, and was also nominated by UNODC as a Youth Peace Champion. His insights into burnout, trauma, humility, and emotional repair disrupted traditional narratives about activism. He reminded us that accountability begins with understanding ourselves: our patterns, our limits, and our responsibilities to others.

Looking to Nepal, Dharma Raj Rimal blended advocacy, storytelling, and organizational leadership throughout the year. He contributed to national conversations on ILO Convention 189 for domestic and care workers, completed UNESCO Kathmandu’s Media & Information Literacy workshop, and closed his chapter as President of Yuwalaya after eight years of service. His story illustrates how accountability can be both reflective and forward-looking.

Uganda’s Annet Namugosa, a Lawyer and Program Manager at Vijana Corps, has continued to expand civic space for young people, especially those historically excluded from justice processes. Her work demonstrates that advocacy gains strength when it emerges from lived experience rather than solely from policy frameworks. Earlier this year, we profiled Annet’s Civic Charge journey – exploring youth agency, leadership, and why visibility matters for social change. Read the full article here.

Accountability through public participation 

Across both cohorts, Civic Charge fellows are expanding democratic space through creativity, courage, and a deep belief in the value of public participation.

In Nigeria, Sani Emmanuel influenced OGP Nigeria’s National Action Plan IV by facilitating regional dialogues, including the North Central Youth Dialogue in Lokoja, and spotlighting procurement reforms that have saved the country over ₦173 billion in just six months. His work reinforces a key message: youth participation must be meaningful, informed, and sustained.

Fellow Nigerian, Ifenla Oligbinde, continued advancing women’s political leadership and inclusive democracy. As founder of the SHAPE Project, she is working to raise $100,000 to support young Nigerian women running for office in 2027, while also leading on civic engagement and governance through Ark and Rainbow Development Foundation. This year, Ifenla joined the Rotary Peace Fellowship at the University of Bradford, deepening her work at the intersection of conflict, peace, and political representation. She also participated in International Democracy Day Brussels as part of the WYDE Youth Advisory Board, sharing insights on how women and youth can shape global democratic agendas when given real access to decision-making spaces.

From Zimbabwe, Amanda Chenai Makombe continued building the Open Street Café, a youth-driven civic space blending art, expression, and social dialogue. Previously recognised by ABCD Africa and Vital Voices, her work proves that democracy can be shaped through creativity, culture, and collective imagination. This year, she also led Voices on Canvas: Misodzi as part of International Day of the Girl celebrations — a collaboration with the Girls and Women Empowerment Network, Kumbekumbe Arts Trust, and FEPA Afrika Switzerland. Reflecting on the day, Amanda shared: “Creative spaces give us the power to shape our own narratives…leadership isn’t always about standing in front; sometimes it’s about serving, sharing, and creating spaces so others can shine.” The project brought together girls, artists, and community leaders in Seke Rural, weaving art, story, movement, and connection into a shared moment of collective expression and belonging.

Kylah Ciego continued strengthening civic participation in Belize through both institutional and grassroots leadership. This year, she joined the EU-funded ILO PROSPER Project as National Implementation and Monitoring Officer, bringing her expertise in youth advocacy, anti-trafficking, and social development into national policy work. She also delivered the keynote address at the 2025 Ecumenical Junior College graduation in Dangriga –  urging students to “chase dreams, create legacy,” and see leadership as service. Through her organization, Citizens for Good Governance, Kylah is expanding opportunities for civic engagement in Southern Belize, including securing a new capacity-building grant to deepen community-led accountability efforts.

In Nepal, Prince Shah Chaudhary represented SpeakUp Nepal at the Athens Democracy Forum as a finalist for the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Award 2025. His reflections highlighted Nepal’s progress in civic technology and democratic innovation, while forging global connections that will support future collaboration. This year also brought a defining moment: SpeakUp Nepal was featured in an article by The New York Times, a milestone Prince described by saying, “Democracy isn’t just about casting a vote; it lives in everyday frustrations – when systems stay broken, when questions go unanswered, when voices go unheard.” For Prince and his team, the feature was less about international recognition and more about proving that “even from a small country like ours, stories of democratic hope can travel far.” His work through SpeakUp Nepal continues to demonstrate how civic voice, transparency, and inclusive dialogue can reshape participation from the ground up. Read the full article here.

Over in Pakistan, Saro Imran continued to expand economic inclusion through her work at both Focal Point and the PINK Center, two initiatives she founded to support transgender entrepreneurs with skills training, business development, and community networks. This year, she also published two peer-reviewed research papers examining how institutional barriers and entrepreneurial agency shape the experiences of transgender-led enterprises. By pairing scholarship with practical action, Saro is helping shift economic systems from the ground up – demonstrating how policy, research, and lived experience can reinforce one another in the pursuit of equity. 

Accountability through climate and community

Some fellows are operating where climate stress, community wellbeing, and public health meet – contexts that demand urgent, grounded, and community-driven responses.

Bangladesh’s Dr. Sakia Haque, Co-Founder of Travelettes of Bangladesh, continued her cross-disciplinary work in epidemiology, women’s mobility, and public health. Through engagements with Dhaka University and the Asian Tourism Fair, she highlighted how learning, mobility, and safety shape women’s ability to fully participate in civic life. At the HEY Youth Summit 2025, Pranto Paul directly focused on climate and issued an important warning about the shrinking space for youth at COP30 and other global climate platforms. His advocacy called for structural support, resources, and genuine access – arguing that climate policy must center those who will live through its consequences. 

In Kenya, Fatma Mohamed Abdullahi,  Co-Founder and Director of Sleak Community Organization, was nominated for the Sociopreneur Award by the Christian Women Entrepreneurs Network of Africa. She co-led a young women’s football tournament that attracted around 350 attendees and connected participants to blue economy opportunities. Her work shows that accountability often emerges in community spaces where young women feel informed, valued, and supported in their ambitions.

Also from Kenya, Brian Malika, Founder of One More Percent, continued to amplify marginalized voices in conversations about technology, justice, and resource extraction. He brought these perspectives to DataFest Africa in Nairobi and later to the 2025 African Investigative Journalism Conference at the University of the Witwatersrand – urging audiences to rethink who gets heard, who benefits, and how accountability must include those most affected by injustice

What this moment shows us

The journeys of the 2024 and 2025 Civic Charge cohorts reveal something deeper than a list of activities; they show what becomes possible when changemakers have the space to pause, learn, and strengthen their practice alongside others. Across countries and contexts, fellows are building bridges between people and systems, turning ideas into action, and widening access to spaces where decisions are shaped. Their work is steady, principled, and rooted in the realities of their communities.

Taken together, their stories form a powerful reminder that leadership does not always announce itself loudly. It grows through consistency, integrity, and the willingness to stand with others in pursuit of something better. Civic Charge fellows are strengthening accountability where they are – online and offline, locally and globally – demonstrating that meaningful change is built over time, through intention, relationships, and the conviction that systems can shift when people do the work together.

Naseera Noor-Mahomed