Grant Makers Can Improve Government Effectiveness in the Covid-19 Era

Philanthropy has committed billions of dollars in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. While certainly generous, that’s a fraction of the trillions committed so far by governments worldwide. And therein lies a largely untapped opportunity. By Leslie Lang Tsai Grant makers can have an outsized impact by supporting efforts to improve government efficiency, accountability, and effectiveness in responding to the pandemic. Philanthropies should start by asking themselves some critical questions: How much of this massive tranche of government resources will be lost through corruption? Who is even monitoring what may be governments’ largest non-wartime spending in history? And what can grant [...]

2020-07-14T22:27:59+00:0014th July 2020|

Don’t let Covid-19 camouflage endemic corruption

As nations and health systems begin to reopen in the aftermath of COVID-19, we should not forget opportunistic corruption exists because the system allows it. But for the poor, they may not even know they are trapped. Being a victim of corruption does not mean you are aware you are a victim, and this is where the defenseless are most vulnerable. Written by Michael Seo and Khadija Rheto.  In April, official creditors including the IMF and the World Bank discussed mobilizing up to $57 billion for Africa in 2020 to provide front-line health services to the vulnerable and prevent economies [...]

2020-06-01T00:00:00+00:001st June 2020|

Countering corruption and closing civic space during the coronavirus

Accountability Lab hosted a session on countering corruption and closing civic space during the coronavirus in partnership with the B-team. AL Director Blair Glencorse moderated the discussions and three of our Country Directors - Odeh Friday (Nigeria), Eva Sander (Mexico) and Fayyaz Yaseen (Pakistan) participated as panelists, along with Annabel Lee Hogg of the B-Team. The session was part of a week-long series of online learning & networking exploring the theme of "Collective Strength" organized by The Skoll Foundation. Corruption costs $500 billion a year in the health sector and countless billions more in sectors related to the coronavirus crisis like water and [...]

2020-03-31T00:00:00+00:0031st March 2020|

Beyond Protest: Harnessing People Power for the New Decade

Shaazka Beyerle is a Senior Research Advisor in the Program on Nonviolent Action at the United States Institute of Peace and a Senior Advisor with ICNC. Here, she writes about what research conducted by her and her colleagues has revealed about the power of non-violent protest in social movements that have recognised the systemic nature of corruption and began demanding greater accountability from the system as a whole. 2019 is being called the year of protest. Citizens across the globe are galvanizing, in large part over the nexus of corruption, inequality, and a sense that governments and political elites are [...]

2019-12-10T00:00:00+00:0010th December 2019|

Tech-driven accountability approaches: power, politics and change in Pakistan

Making All Voices Count has supported a number of initiatives in Pakistan at the intersection of technology, accountability and open governance over the past three years. […]

2017-11-19T00:00:00+00:0019th November 2017|

GovInsider: Nepal wants to “name and fame” officials

Narayan Adhikari, country representative from Nepal was recently interviewed by GovInsider about the work of the Lab and the Integrity Idol campaign. Find the article here. There is a reality TV show that could help cut corruption – and instead of starry-eyed singers, it is bringing into the spotlight “honest and incredible public servants”. Integrity Idol is “naming and faming” officials and bureaucrats who “behave differently, act differently, and maintain their honesty and credibility,” says Narayan Adhikari, Nepal Country Representative for the Accountability Lab. This initiative celebrates those that are working for the public good, and shines a spotlight on [...]

2017-09-09T00:00:00+00:009th September 2017|

Why we have to reimagine education to fight corruption

Image: REUTERS/Michaela Rehle By: Blair Glencorse, Executive Director of Accountability Lab, and Vasilis Koulolias, Director, of eGovlab at the University of Stockholm. This article was originally published by the World Economic Forum. Traditional approaches to fighting corruption tend to focus on rules, compliance and enforcement. Regulations are passed and organizations are formed to root out graft. These efforts may provide part of the solution, but are often hamstrung or ineffective in places where opacity and patronage are ingrained, and where there is a gap between legal frameworks and everyday behaviors. To truly build systems and societies with integrity we need to rethink [...]

2017-03-10T00:00:00+00:0010th March 2017|

Can corruption act as a barrier to entry in the private sector?

By: Talib uz Zaman, CIPE Pakistan Programme Officer, and Accountability Lab Pakistan Accountapreneur “Power doesn’t corrupt people, people corrupt power” - William Gaddis Corruption, defined as exploitation of entrusted power for private benefit is, unfortunately,  prevalent in Pakistan. It can take many forms, including bribery, graft, theft and extortion. In the corporate sector, its presence reduces business credibility when professionals misuse their positions for personal gain. Corruption has not only been identified as one of the most significant constraints to private sector development but is also becoming a leading problem for people all around the world. Engagement in corruption depends [...]

2016-07-11T00:00:00+00:0011th July 2016|

Pehlaaj holds interactive theatre on corruption

This article was originally published by Pakistan Today. Pehlaaj -Theatre for Social Change Organisation held an interactive theatre show at Faiz Ghar on the subject of corruption on Saturday. Students of different educational institutions were among the audience. Naeema Butt, theatre founder and an “accountaprenuer” in the US-based Accountability Lab Incubation Centre, held the session aiming at empowering the citizens to build the world’s best tools for integrity. “So, do you think the corruption is something that is practiced only in government offices?” she asked the audience, after several responses that government departments and politicians were corrupt. The workshop, which [...]

2016-06-05T00:00:00+00:005th June 2016|
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