Reimagining democracy support in times of crisis

The recent "When Aid Fades" report by the Global Democracy Coalition serves as a stark reminder that funding cuts to civil society aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet. They represent a systematic weakening of the global democracy ecosystem—one that has stripped protections from human rights defenders, undermined independent media, and emboldened authoritarian regimes that now operate with fewer external checks on repression. Understanding the Scale of the Crisis At Accountability Lab, our Global Aid Freeze Tracker has captured the human dimension of this shock. What began as a quick snapshot for our community evolved into a comprehensive survey including hundreds [...]

2025-12-11T11:01:01+00:0011th December 2025|

The future of governance support depends on what we choose to see

Rebalancing toward the relationships, translation work, and bilingual soft infrastructure that make democratic practice possible.   Across conversations with practitioners, funders, researchers, and colleagues working on democracy, governance and civic space, the same diagnosis keeps surfacing. It’s no longer tentative; it’s becoming a quiet consensus: We need to rebalance away from technocratic prescriptions and toward supporting the connective, coalition-building work that keeps societies stitched together. This is not nostalgia for a pre-aid freeze era, nor a push for a new narrative cycle. It is an invitation to see the soft infrastructure and the people—invisible weavers—who maintain civic space in motion [...]

2025-12-10T10:53:27+00:0010th December 2025|

Leading with purpose: reflections on my journey with Accountability Lab Mali

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” [...]

2025-11-25T14:49:46+00:0025th November 2025|

Introducing our new Country Director in Mali

Accountability Lab Mali is announcing a leadership transition as our current Country Director, Doussouba Konaté, steps down from her role. After several years of consistent service to a growing team, Ms. Konaté is passing the responsibilities to Deputy Director Habibou Diaou. Ms. Konaté joined Accountability Lab in 2018 and has made significant contributions to the development and influence of the organization in Mali and the surrounding region. Under her leadership, AL Mali has strengthened its foundations, diversified its partnerships, and enhanced efforts to promote integrity and citizen participation through inclusive initiatives. She will officially step down on November 14, 2025, [...]

2025-11-14T06:38:36+00:0014th November 2025|

Reimagining the material base for civil society – soundbytes from the world’s largest peace gathering

In one room, a booming Degan Ali from Adeso was sharing practical steps to follow for community organizations as the “Western rule based international system collapsed” - and along with it, Official Development Assistance (ODA). Her entrepreneurial case studies from countries like Somalia solve tangible problems for communities in a way that no longer requires external funding.  Along a few corridors, Palestinian human rights expert Omar Da’na spoke to an intimate circle about preserving evidence and pursuing prosecutions on behalf of fallen journalists in Gaza. Sessions that studied digital ceasefires, remade engagement frameworks for peace, and invited participants to map [...]

2025-11-19T20:55:59+00:0013th November 2025|

Bridging the gap: Why inclusion is the work, not the afterthought

In conversations around governance and democracy, I’ve been struck by how inclusion continues to emerge as both a challenge and a catalyst for change. From the International Democracy Day (IDD) Conference in Brussels to the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz, one theme was consistently reaffirmed for me: young people are not just the future of democracy, they are the present. At the IDD conference, Namibian Deputy Minister of Information, Emma Theofelus, reminded us that while networks and youth movements are flourishing, many young people still don’t know how to navigate the systems that shape their lives. “That’s why [...]

2025-11-13T11:47:34+00:0013th November 2025|

Leadership and Partnership in Security: The Leading Role of Civil Society

As global instability deepens – from hybrid warfare and disinformation to climate shocks and civic repression – the link between democracy and security has never been clearer. Speaking at a high-level roundtable on “Leadership and Partnership in Security: The Leading Role of Civil Society,” Blair Glencorse, Co-CEO of Accountability Lab, reflected on how leadership, trust, and collaboration can help build the foundations of collective security. “It’s an honour to be part of this gathering, especially as Ukraine’s continued struggle for freedom and Moldova’s recent elections remind us that democracy and security are inseparable,” Glencorse began. “The question before us is [...]

2025-10-30T08:39:48+00:0030th October 2025|

Our Stories, Our Voices, Our Power: Reflections from Afrotellers 2025

In Johannesburg, storytellers, artists, and activists from across Africa gathered for the Afrotellers Conference 2025, a three-day celebration of narrative power under the theme "Our Stories. Our Voices. Our Power."  The event created space for reflection, creativity, and dialogue on how storytelling can shape governance, integrity, and social change. Day One opened with Professor René Smith (University of the Witwatersrand of Arts), whose welcome remarks highlighted storytelling as a form of truth-telling and transformation. She reminded participants that stories are not passive reflections of culture but active tools for change — a message that set the tone for the three days [...]

2025-10-28T10:36:22+00:0028th October 2025|

Creating a democracy worthy of Nepal’s GenZ

Nepal stands at a critical juncture. After years of frustration over kleptocracy, corruption and electoral manipulation, citizens and their new leaders have a sequence of key decisions to make.  With elections scheduled within the next few months, education on electoral processes and simplifying processes around voter cards are some of the priorities the country faces. This, in a country where young voters account for more than half of the electorate. Persistent shortcomings in the election system have already generated widespread discontent, creating conditions that could shake the legitimacy of the upcoming elections if these issues are not addressed comprehensively. Another [...]

2025-09-23T10:11:35+00:0023rd September 2025|

Ending Favoritism in Tenders: How Innobid Levels the Playing Field for Entrepreneurs

CEO and co-founder of Innobid, Eliud Luutsa Innobid wants to make public procurement more accessible, transparent, and fair. The platform is for those putting out tenders, bidding for tenders, and those wanting to keep a watchful eye on the goings on of both. Not only does it aim to serve entrepreneurs, governments, ordinary people and the private sector, it’s equalizing the playing field as it goes.  It’s been three years since Innobid co-founder Eliud Luutsa and team became one of the winners of the South and East Africa edition of HackCorruption. What started as an idea for an [...]

2025-09-19T13:47:20+00:0017th September 2025|
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