Accountability Lab | accountlab.bsky.social

🗳️ Elections across Africa bring both opportunity and pressure for democracy. Ahead of the @GloDemCoalition Africa Regional Forum 2026, civic leaders reflected on how young people are mobilizing communities, countering digital threats, and strengthening accountability. From voter education to digital advocacy, youth-led efforts continue – even as civic space narrows. 🔗 bit.ly/47CHjuT 🎥 bit.ly/4sMLOuT #YouthParticipation #Accountability #CivicSpace #Africa #DigitalRights @accountlabalesa | @McDonaldLe72852 | @RestlessDev | @UamuziOrg | @Kmoeti

🗳️ Nepal’s highly anticipated elections are taking place this Thursday. The country’s Gen-Z protests – and movement – have heavily impacted and shaped the electoral process. High stakes elections require robust monitoring, and @accountlabnp has been actively informing, involving and supporting young citizens and electoral organisations in preparation. The interim government has already been working on the blueprint for a good governance roadmap – a process that AL Nepal Country Director Narayan Adhikari is part of. He talks about the importance of a trust-based administration in this piece in Foreign Policy, “Can Elections Secure Nepal’s Youth Revolution?” 📰 Give it a read in preparation for the upcoming polls: foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/24/nep…

📘 New research exploring the politics of informal settlements in African cities We’re proud to see Dr. McDonald Lewanika, Team Leader at Accountability Lab East and Southern Africa (ALESA), contributing to an important comparative study examining how political dynamics shape urban development across the continent. The paper explores how political settlements analysis can help explain tenure security, social provisioning, and governance in informal settlements – highlighting how entrenched interests, patronage politics, and varying national contexts influence outcomes for low-income urban residents. It also challenges common assumptions about clientelism and ethnicity, offering a more nuanced lens on the political economy of African cities. The article is currently available on Open Access: 🔗 bit.ly/3MtZgV0 – a valuable resource for anyone working at the intersection of governance, urban development, and accountability. Congratulations to Dr. Lewanika and collaborators on this meaningful contribution to the field. 👏 #UrbanGovernance #Accountability #AfricanCities #Research #PoliticalEconomy #ALESA

✨ Congratulations to @NatalieGwat on the @WWF – Amano So Fellowship! ✨ We’re proud to celebrate Natalie Gwatirisa, Climate Justice Programs Associate at @accountlabalesa, on being selected for the WWF–Amano So Fellowship. Natalie joins a cohort of 20 young leaders from Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Cameroon, Vietnam, and the Central African Republic — all working at the intersection of conservation, climate justice, and community leadership. The fellowship creates space for shared learning, resilience-building, and strategic thinking grounded in the realities of communities on the ground. Her journey reflects a thoughtful and collaborative approach to climate justice, and this milestone marks an exciting step alongside peers shaping change across regions. 🌍 Please join us in celebrating Natalie and wishing her well for the journey ahead. @aueuyouthvoices | @WWF | Amano So #ClimateJustice #YouthLeadership #Accountability #ALESA #WWF #ClimateLeadership

🌱 We've learned a lot over the last year. Through grounded data, honest conversations about what’s next, and learning we could actually put into practice, we've found some real direction. In this edition of our newsletter we talk about the new system slowly taking shape and how this is the moment to rebuild the connective tissue that helps societies adapt, learn, and govern better. 📣 Reimagine with us. Read and subscribe to our newsletter: bit.ly/4qaIecl

🏗️ WEBINAR: How Ukrainian businesses are advancing integrity and corporate compliance practices during conflict 🕓 16:00 EEST/UTC+2 on ZOOM 🔗 Register: bit.ly/4aDH4l4

🛤️ ONE YEAR ON: Impacts of shrinking aid on local CSOs in the Global South A report that captures the realities around institutional strain, ethical trade-offs, erosion of trust, and hard decisions about pivoting towards better funded issues. Crucially, CSOs shared recommendations on how donors can best contribute to supporting the development ecosystem as it now stands: 🔲 Prioritise core, flexible, multi-year funding 🔲 Avoid incentivising mandate drift through funding design 🔲 Support representative joint advocacy and ecosystem-level infrastructure 🔲 Treat civic space protection as a funding priority 👓 Get into the details of the full report: bit.ly/4bB419H

📣 Accountability Lab is pleased to share that @Belovedchiweshe has been appointed as the Country Director of @accountlabzw. Beloved succeeds McDonald Lewanika (@Makil), now Executive Director for Accountability Lab East & Southern Africa. With 15+ years in democracy, human rights, and governance, he brings deep institutional experience to the role. 🔗 Full announcement: bit.ly/3LXtbF3 #MakingGovernanceWorkForThePeople #Leadership #Accountability #Zimbabwe

🌱 While the old system has broken down and the new system has yet to emerge, we have an opportunity not just to respond to crisis, but to rebuild the connective tissue that allows societies to adapt, learn and govern themselves. And If philanthropy can fund that tissue – relationships, legitimacy, shared infrastructure – then everything else becomes possible. In a recent conversation on effective philanthropy AL co-CEO @blairglencorse joined sector experts to explore how donors, whether individuals, foundations, or corporations, can maximize their impact. The conversation was hosted by the Center for High Impact Philanthropy (@ImpactSP2) to launch their High Impact Giving Toolkit which highlights how resilience is collective, and that no organization, donor, or government can go it alone. ▶️ Dive into the full discussion here: bit.ly/3NWjCGV

🌱 How are women shaping economic leadership in their communities? As part of its project “For Effective Mining in Mali,” @accountlabML is supporting locally led initiatives that strengthen dialogue and accountability in mining-affected communities. Led by Accountapreneur, Kia Sissoko, the project “Future for Women” focuses on strengthening women’s economic autonomy and leadership in the urban municipality of Sadiola. The initiative works with women to build skills in management, advocacy, leadership, and financial education, while encouraging economic solidarity and collective action. To date, 20 women have strengthened their capacity to advocate for their priorities and participate more actively as actors of local development. By supporting women to organise, lead, and engage, this work contributes to more inclusive approaches to accountability and development in mining-affected communities. #AccountabilityLabMali #Accountapreneur #MiningAccountability #SustainableDevelopment

📣 Learning opportunity! The @GovActionHub, in partnership with the University of Maryland, is offering a free virtual course on climate, democracy, and development. From Feb 2 – May 4, participants can join weekly live sessions, collaborate with peers globally, and earn a certificate of completion. The course is led by Mario G. Picón, PhD, Senior Director at the Governance Action Hub and Lecturer at UMD. If this is relevant to your work or interests, registration is now open. 🔗 bit.ly/4sKFDZr

🎬 How are communities experiencing artisanal mining in Bougouni? As part of its project “For Effective Mining in Mali,” @accountlabML is supporting locally led initiatives that strengthen dialogue and accountability in mining-affected communities. One of these initiatives is led by Accountapreneur, @FatoumataBoubou, through a documentary film titled “Eco-Responsible Gold: Voices from Bougouni for Innovative and Sustainable Mining.” Through the film, Fatoumata brings forward the voices of communities living around artisanal gold mining sites in the Bougouni region. The documentary reflects on the social and environmental impacts of artisanal mining and opens space for discussion about what more responsible, sustainable practices could look like in practice. The film also features reflections from Aïda M’bo, former Minister of the Environment, Sanitation, and Sustainable Development, who speaks to the challenges facing artisanal mining and possible pathways toward longer-term solutions. This initiative reflects AL Mali’s approach to mining accountability: supporting locally driven ideas, amplifying community perspectives, and encouraging constructive engagement around natural resource governance. #AccountabilityLabMali #Accountapreneur #MiningAccountability #SustainableDevelopment

🎙️ In this AccountabiliTea episode, Habibou Diaou reflects on leadership as a collective practice – grounded in humility, listening, and making space for many voices and forms of knowledge. His reflections sit alongside others from across Accountability Lab’s network, reminding us that accountability is built through relationships, collaboration, and shared work – not position alone. 🎧 bit.ly/3cs6Ywz Blair Glencorse| Jean Scrimgeour | Erin Sines | Djitteye Doussouba Konaté, Habibou Diaou | Florencia Guerzovich | Brian Malika | @accountlabML #AccountabiliTeaPodcast #Accountability #InclusiveLeadership

Together with GMI – Gender Special, @accountlabpk is launching a short-film storytelling initiative with women climate journalists to document climate realities at the community level. Journalists will report from the field, work with visual storytellers and mentors, and produce short climate documentaries on land, livelihoods, health, governance, and local resilience. They’ll receive micro-reporting grants with editorial and ethical support. The films will be shared across our networks and the journalists’ platforms – bringing community experiences into wider climate conversations. 👀 More to come. #FilmFellowship #ClimateStorytelling #Journalists

In this special AccountabiliTea podcast episode, Cheri-Leigh Erasmus, Co-CEO of Accountability Lab, reflects on what makes learning and adaptation possible in uncertain contexts. Her insight – that learning needs to be continuous, relational, and embedded – sits alongside reflections from other voices across the Lab’s global network, all grappling with what it takes for accountability work to endure. Together, these conversations remind us that adaptability isn’t reactive. It’s built through culture, trust, and the everyday practice of learning together. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: ➡️ bit.ly/3cs6Ywz Blair Glencorse| Jean Scrimgeour | Erin Sines | Djitteye Doussouba Konaté, Habibou Diaou | Florencia Guerzovich | Brian Malika | @accountlabML #Accountability #AdaptiveLeadership #CollectiveCare #AccountabiliTeaPodcast

As we step into a new year, Jean Scrimgeour, Co-CEO of Accountability Lab, reflects on a guiding question that shaped the Lab’s approach during a period of uncertainty: how can we be helpful? Her reflections sit alongside insights from other voices across the Lab’s global network in this special AccountabiliTea podcast episode – bringing together perspectives on learning, adaptation, care, and what it takes for accountability work to endure. Together, these conversations point to a future grounded in radical kindness, collective responsibility, and steady leadership. 🎧 Listen here: bit.ly/3cs6Ywz Blair Glencorse| Cheri-Leigh Erasmus | Erin Sines | Djitteye Doussouba Konaté, Habibou Diaou | Florencia Guerzovich | Brian Malika | @accountlabML #RadicalKindness #CollectiveCare #Leadership #AccountabiliTeaPodcast

We’re closing out the year by sharing our newsletter wrap-up for 2025 – reflections on the learnings and collective efforts that shaped the year. As we take a short pause to rest and reset, we’re grateful to everyone who made this work possible. Wishing you a gentle close to the year. 🔗: bit.ly/4aRLR2Y 📰

The 2024 Accountapreneurs from Nepal are advancing thoughtful approaches to accountability – whether through climate resilience, digital rights, civic tech, inclusive healthcare, or community-led sustainability. What stands out across their work is not only innovation, but attentive listening – to community needs, youth voices, and lived experiences. Their initiatives remind us that accountability is not abstract; it is shaped through everyday interactions, shared responsibility, and constructive dialogue. @accountlabnp has captured their journeys through a series of short film profiles, featuring: 🎥 Aakriti Dotel 🎥 Sadichchha Silwal 🎥 Dr. Samundra Gurung 🎥 Prince Chaudhary & Subin Shrestha (Speak Up Nepal) 🎥 Susil Khanal Explore the playlist and hear directly from these leaders about what motivates their work: bit.ly/4aDBtvw

Innovation in democracy support isn’t always about new tools. It’s about recognizing the “invisible weavers” who connect institutions and communities every day. AL Non-Resident Fellow @guerzovich shares why visibility and not invention is what civic space needs now 👉 bit.ly/4iYR7nn