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The global development lowdown at SXSW

By Catherine Cheney. This article by originally published by Devex. South by Southwest is an annual festival that takes place in mid-March in Austin, Texas. Photo by: Patrick / CC BY-NC Every year, professionals across sectors gather in Austin, Texas, for South by Southwest, a “destination for discovery” for music, film and technology. “South by Southwest, in our best moments, is about using technology, using creativity, using innovation to help people out who need help, to help level the playing field between the haves and have nots,” Hugh Forrest, chief programming officer for SXSW, said at the Community Service Awards Monday. [...]

2017-03-15T00:00:00+00:0015th March 2017|

Integrity Idol: Using fame to fight corruption in Mali

By: Charlotte Renfield-Miller. This blog post was originally published by IREX. Since the coup in 2012, Mali has been plagued by corruption, which has hindered the government’s ability to combat terrorism. Mandela Washington Fellow Kondo Moussa is having none of it—and he’s fighting back against corruption by turning honest leaders into rock stars with Integrity Idol. Mali established a constitutional government in early 2014, but the country faces difficulty in uniting its factions and establishing peace. The government is led by a small political elite driven primarily by self-interest. For example, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was accused of corruption during his [...]

2017-02-24T00:00:00+00:0024th February 2017|

Announcing the 2017/18 Accountability Incubator’s Cohort of “Accountapreneurs”

The Accountability Lab catalyzes a new generation of active citizens and responsible leaders around the world. Our core work is through the Accountability Incubator: a two-year program of support for the very best “accountapreneurs”. This year the application process was incredibly competitive; we had hundreds of applications across our three focus countries–Nepal, Liberia and Pakistan. We have selected 15 amazing young change-makers to join our Incubator and work with us to transform their societies through new and sustainable ideas for accountability. We've seen inspiring projects from past accountapreneurs, and this year we'll have a dynamic mix of first year and second [...]

2017-01-27T00:00:00+00:0027th January 2017|

Last Chance to Submit Honesty Oscars Nominations!

On April 14th, 2014, over 200 Nigerian schoolgirls were abducted from their Chibok boarding school by members of Boko Haram. One woman, Hadiza Usman, spearheaded the Bring Back Our Girls initiative and has worked tirelessly since to secure the release of the girls. In Colombia, over 4 million people have been forced off their land, leaving their country with a severe internal refugee crisis. “The Fight for Land” directed by Juan Mejia shed light on this relatively unknown issue with creative and powerful storytelling. These are just two of the winners of Honesty Oscars in 2016. Every year actors, actresses, [...]

2017-01-13T00:00:00+00:0013th January 2017|

X-Factor style accountability contest boosts integrity among government officials

By: Sophie Edwards. This article was originally published by Devex. Integrity Idol Nepal 2016 winner Dor Bikram Shrees accepts his winner's trophy from Surya Nath Updhyay, former head of the anti-corruption agency in Nepal. Photo by: Ranjit Shrestha An X-Factor style contest which “names and fames” public officials who go above and beyond when it comes to serving their constituents, is offering a new way of combating corruption and boosting accountability in developing countries. Now in its third year and operating annually in Nepal, Liberia, Pakistan and Mali, Integrity Idol is modelled on popular television shows such as Pop Idol. [...]

2017-01-10T00:00:00+00:0010th January 2017|

Five government officials shortlisted for Integrity Idol 2016 award

This article was originally published by myRepublica. With an objective to 'identify and celebrate Nepal's most honest government official', five high performing civil servants have been shortlisted for the Integrity Idol 2016 award. The 3rd national campaign of its kind saw nominations from over 850 government officials from across the country. From the list, five of them were shortlisted for the award by a panel of independent experts on December 22. Women Development Inspector of Jumla, Bindu Kunwar; Under Secretary of National Reconstruction Authority, Bhisma Kumar Bhusal; Principal of Gulmi-based Siddhababa Higher Secondary School, Dor Bikram Shrees; Principal of Bhaktapur-based [...]

2016-12-27T00:00:00+00:0027th December 2016|

Integrity Idol: Celebrating Heroes in Nepali Public Service via a Reality TV Contest

Three years ago, Accountability Lab Nepal developed a TV show through which honest government officials were filmed, with citizens watching the episodes and voting for their favorites. It was a surprise hit, taking the country by storm- with tens of thousands of votes being cast for the finalists. This season’s grand finale is yet to come, but the Nepalese people have embraced the competition again, voting in record numbers through SMS and online for their favorite civil servants. The campaign brings Nepalis from across the country into a conversation about what it means to be a person of integrity. It [...]

2016-12-27T00:00:00+00:0027th December 2016|

Accountability Lab: Promoting Good Government, Fighting Corruption

By: Marc Gunther. This article was originally published on Nonprofits Chronicles.  In the US, Integrity Idol might not qualify as must-see TV. The TV-and-radio show showcases five government officials, nominated by their fellow citizens, who are known for their honesty. People vote for their favorite civil servant via text messages or online, and the winner is crowned in a ceremony in the national capital. In Nepal, though, Integrity Idol is a hit. Last year, reached an estimated 3 million viewers (10 percent of the population), generated 10,000 votes and celebrated the work of a education reformer named Gyan Mani Nepal, who cleaned house [...]

2016-12-15T00:00:00+00:0015th December 2016|

Integrity idol: Liberian reality TV show celebrates ethics

By: Kieron Monks, CNN. This article was originally published by CNN. A new reality TV craze is sweeping Liberia, with tens of thousands voting for their heroes and an intense debate surrounding their merits. But the recipients of their votes are not singing ballads or performing stunts. They are checking school registers and fighting ebola. Integrity Idol is a show with a purpose: to celebrate the honesty of the best public servants, while embarrassing the corruption of the worst. Local heroes The show, now in its second year in Liberia, is open to all government employees -- who make up [...]

2016-12-05T00:00:00+00:005th December 2016|

The Perspective of a Visual Storytelling Fellow

By: Brittany Wait, Accountability Lab Visual Storytelling Fellow in Nepal I’m a master’s student in photography and film at Syracuse University. Thanks to a partnership through my college and the Accountability Lab based out of Washington, D.C., I spent the summer in Nepal on a visual storytelling fellowship. Thanks to my mentor Ken Harper, with the Center for Global Engagement at SU, I was selected to join the team. While there, I worked independently on projects, setting my own deadlines with the mission to add value to their efforts. Not only did I feel I was a value to the [...]

2016-11-03T00:00:00+00:003rd November 2016|
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