ACCOUNTABILITY INCUBATOR

An Incubator for Reformers Working on Issues of Transparency and Accountability

Our Accountability Incubator supports strong and innovative ideas from young people for accountability, participation and open government. The Accountability Incubator is one of the Lab’s flagship program for young change makers to build sustainable, effective tools for change. It provides a non-prescriptive, yet supportive environment for creative, enterprising individuals who bring innovative ideas to inspire accountability in their communities.

Selected “accountapreneurs” receive a year of hands-on, comprehensive support including: training and knowledge-building, mentoring, network building, and media outreach support. Women, people with disabilities and other minority groups are encouraged to apply in particular.
Applications are currently closed for 2024.

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Young Liberian activist Miatta Mulbah brought her small anti-rape NPO to our Accountability Incubator. We helped Miatta build Leemah into an organisation that successfully uses music and street theater to advocate against sexual harassment and abuse on behalf of girls in Montserrado and Margibi counties.

Tanzila Khan is a young Pakistani woman who founded innovative empowerment company Girlythings that advocates around period health and destigmatization.

Mujtaba Zaidi Hassan founded Discovering New Artists (DNA), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing education through arts to children in Pakistan. With the support of the Accountability Incubator, he pivoted the initiative to focus on ideas of civic engagement and responsibility within Pakistani society.

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IMPACT TO DATE

More than 300 accountapreneurs have passed through our incubators, with ideas ranging from integrity watch groups at primary schools; to building networks of music artists pushing for integrity; to tools using blockchain to secure elections.

Changes the accountapreneurs have created include: pushing for budgets to be allocated to schools more effectively (Pakistan); changes to policies implemented by mining companies (Liberia); and the resolution of hundreds of accountability problems for migrants (Nepal).

INCUBATOR FAQs

Civic Charge is looking for innovative projects in the testing or implementation phase focused on inclusion in the governance space; climate justice, with a focus on strengthening inclusive governance of natural resources and land; digital governance; and enhancing civic agency.

You will need to complete the application form and supply contact details of two references, along with your CV and a selfie video explaining your initiative.

It is absolutely free to join the program upon selection. We invest in our “accountapreneurs” (accountability entrepreneurs) by providing the time and space for you to grow your ideas further. We do ask that participants remain committed to the program throughout the 12-month period (January to December 2024).

Civic Charge is a year-long accelerated program with hands-on comprehensive support to the participants. The process has three stages: applications, selection, and then the accelerator cycle (ending December 2024). This includes nine months of comprehensive training and mentorship and three months of follow-up and support.

Civic Charge is the same globally. Participants form part of a global network of change-makers. 

The program customizes its curriculum each year based on a needs assessment carried out at the beginning of each cohort. The selected members are required to be available for bi-monthly training sessions, and additional team assignments, networking events and one-on-one mentoring sessions. We recognize that young change-makers lead busy lives. We value their time and understand competing demands.

Through small cohorts of 12 individuals in Civic Charge per year, we are investing in creating an integrated learning experience for change makers who are ready to engage at the global level. In our training programs, we strive to create tailored experiences that speak to the experiences and needs of participants.

The Accountability Lab network and alumni have always played the role of being “door openers” for each other and provide ongoing support to each other. The focus of the program is as much in building the community and the values it represents as it is in building the ideas themselves. In addition, participants also receive access to mentors and other resources year-round through the AL network.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Be the founder/CEO or primary decision-maker for the organization’s development and management;

  • Have an original project in the testing or implementation phase that impacts accountability and transparency;

  • Have a project that is a pilot or in the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) phase;

  • Be between 18 and 35-years-old at the start of the program;

  • Demonstrate the Accountability Lab’s values;

  • Submit the application by 11:59 PM ET on November 24, 2023;

  • Reside in Bangladesh, Belize, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Mali, Mexico, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somaliland, South Africa, or Zimbabwe.

THE IDEA PROPOSED BY THE CANDIDATE SHOULD BE:

Context-Specific: Does the idea demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the community it will support?

Feasible: How likely is it that the idea proposed will be achieved over time? Creative: Is the idea for accountability truly innovative?

Sustainable: Does the candidate have a plan for how the project can continue over time? Is the idea designed to have a long-term impact?

Scalable: Will the idea create a model for accountability that could be expanded to other communities?

*The applicant/project/idea must not be grounded in or focused on a specific political agenda or party.

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