Our Mission & Values

Our Mission

Our mission at Accountability Lab is to make governance work for people everywhere. We do this by supporting active citizens, responsible leaders and accountable institutions.

Our Theory of Change

We have developed several theories of change (ToC) over the lifetime of the Accountability Lab. We are proud of the fact that our understanding of our work is evolving as we iterate and learn.

Our Values

These values guide all our thinking and programs, and are exemplified by and expected of our directors, officers, employees, and volunteers. We continually hold ourselves accountable to them and encourage others to hold us accountable as well.

INTEGRITY

• We speak truth, follow through, and take responsibility.
• We follow through on what we commit to. When plans change, we say so early, explain why, and take responsibility for the impact.

LEARNING

• We reflect, adapt, and improve together.
• We reflect on what worked and what didn’t, document lessons, and change how we work   based on what we learn.

EQUITY

• We name power, design access, and widen voice.
• We name power differences and adapt how we plan, meet, and decide so people can participate fully across roles, languages, and contexts.

TRANSPARENCY

• We share early, explain clearly, and close the loop.
• We share information early, explain decisions and trade-offs in clear language, and communicate what we heard and what changed.

SOLIDARITY

• We show up, share burden, and stand together.
• We support each other across Labs, especially when limits are unequal, by sharing learning, opportunities, and protection.

MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY

• We name it, address it, and repair it.
• We raise issues directly, flag risks early, follow through on commitments, and repair trust when norms are broken.