In this week's global roundup – strengthening ecosystems & meeting the moment with ...regional connections

Accountability Lab Pakistan's Strengthening Leadership and Resilience in Preventing Conflict and Promoting Peace took students on a transformative journey into understanding the roots of violent extremism and their power to disrupt it. Participants explored the intersections of identity, community, and conflict, while challenging the narratives that fuel division – all while asking the question “What difference can I make?”

At the Regional Conference on Democratic Resilience and Movement Building in Malawi, AL Regional Director for East and Southern Africa McDonald Lewanika underscored that to reimagine democracy and human rights defence, we must root it in local realities, rethink our strategies, and reconnect with the ideological foundations that drive sustainable change.
Find more on how we can meet the moment at Accountability Lab Zimbabwe

Accountability Lab Nepal is gathering nominations for their Integrity Icons of 2025 – public servants who have gone above and beyond for their constituencies – to be named, famed and welcomed to the Lab's network of integrity champions in governance.
Learn more at: https://integrityicon.org/

Supporting Young Changemakers

We’re excited to be working with the Kofi Annan... Foundation as part of a regional effort to support youth and women’s participation in public life.

Our colleague Habibou Diaou joined the initiative as a trainer and coach, leading project design sessions during a recent workshop in Dakar. The space brought together 10 brilliant young leaders from Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, and Madagascar – each working to drive change in their communities.

Together, we explored how to make ideas more relevant, actionable, and sustainable through coaching, collaboration, and peer learning.

#AccountabilityLab #KofiAnnanFoundation #YouthLeadership #CivicEngagement

Join us at #OpenGovWeek for a dynamic virtual session on youth participation in governance, ...co-hosted by Accountability Lab and the Youth Democracy Cohort. Hear from youth leaders and civic stakeholders as we explore how to build stronger, more inclusive civic spaces.

May 21 | 10 AM EST | 4 PM CET | 7:30 PM IST
Register at bit.ly/next-gen25

#OpenGovWeek #YouthInGovernance #NextGen25

How do you know when it’s time for an organization to transition? Could you list the comparative ...benefits and risks of merging, partnering or perhaps winding down?

Through developing our Strategic Partnership Toolkit for Civil Society, we’ve seen how misaligned or poorly planned partnerships can lead to lasting negative consequences. These include traumatic impacts on staff because of different work cultures, and damaging participant communities through assigning contracts to organizations that provide a materially different quality of work. In some cases, winding down may be a wiser option than a badly planned merger that conveys assets and resources to an organization that cannot sustain and grow them.

When considering a merger or strategic partnership, it is important to place emphasis on alignment that honors the value and values of your organization. Developing a deep understanding of these will help you recognize what kinds of partnerships and transitions won’t work - before you find yourself in a situation that could be more harmful than helpful to your organization .

To help you think through this process, Accountability Lab, Digital Public, and Development Gateway have created a strategic partnership toolkit & partnership matching service with practical steps to guide you through how to accurately assess restructuring or merger options while preserving key programs and impact. Access it here: https://accountabilitylab.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Civil-Society-Strategic-Partnership-Toolkit.pdf

Remember, while few matches are completely perfect, you can set yourself up for success by following these steps to prioritize your organizational efforts and preserve your mission!

#CivilSociety #StrategicPartnerships #NonprofitResilience #InternationalDevelopment

Over the past year Accountability Lab Nepal leveraged their multi-sectoral approach to embed ...accountability where it matters most. The Lab has actively bridged the gap between communities and government, facilitating inclusive, transparent policymaking in key areas such as education, youth participation, and public-private partnerships.

They've achieved this by:
Creating diverse platforms for dialogue, networking, and learning
Equipping young leaders and changemakers to drive systemic reform
Collaborating closely with government institutions and federations to ensure shared ownership and long-term sustainability

Read the full annual report here: https://bit.ly/4dmAn6S