Accountability Lab

10/08/2026

🪧🇳🇵Arnab has been involved in youth political participation within the Nepal Gen Z movement, but also served in the National Youth Council. He shares that opportunities for real political participation have largely circulated in limited circles in proximity to existing power structures.

Arnab was part of the group of young people who worked on the 10-point agreement between the movement and government – which included strong pushback against nepotism and the establishment of a Gen Z council. While signed and sealed, organisers are still pushing for delivery of especially institutional reforms and accountability.






https://bit.ly/4yxcW4u

Arnab has been involved in youth political participation within the...

10/08/2026

As philanthropy takes on a growing role in public life, questions of power and accountability become harder to ignore.

Diplomatic Courier's reflections from the Philanthropy Futures Forum include contributions from Accountability Lab Co-CEO Blair Glencorse on who holds philanthropy accountable when it shapes public outcomes.

The discussion also highlighted tide pool infrastructure: sustaining civic talent and networks as funding and political support recede. It speaks to a central challenge of ecosystem building – how to keep people connected and collective action possible through uncertainty.

What could this mean for how we invest in people, relationships, and collaboration?

👓 Read the full reflections here:

Oct 05, 2026 // As government funding retreats and charities strain under rising demand, funders at UNGA 81 asked what philanthropy is for. They found answers in unexpected places, from the generosity of lower-income nations to the case for capital that clears obstacles and then moves on.

10/07/2026

What is country-led development? And what makes it more effective?

Our Senior Non-Resident Fellow, Soheila Comninos, explores these questions in her recent Devex article, “Country-led development cannot mean solely government-led development."

While there’s growing interest among philanthropies in partnering with national governments, she argues that these partnerships will only be effective, inclusive, and accountable when they also make space for independent perspectives beyond government.

Civil society organizations, local governments, community groups, businesses, independent media, and citizens have a role to play in shaping priorities, scrutinizing decisions, and holding institutions accountable. Their participation can help make strategies more responsive and provide independent oversight of how resources are allocated and used.

As Soheila puts it, "country-led development will be strongest when it reflects not only the priorities of national governments, but the voices and interests of the people they represent."

Read more to explore what more inclusive development decision-making can look like:

Opinion: Giving countries greater control over development is overdue. But if civil society is shut out, country ownership could simply concentrate power in government hands.

10/06/2026

🎙️ What if shifting power made funding partnerships stronger?

Carolyn Dallmann of Humanity United offers a compelling reminder: making more room for others to lead doesn’t mean funders disappear. Their role as strategic partners still matters – but the way they show up can change.

In 'Shifting Power: Innovative approaches to grantmaking', Cheri-Leigh Erasmus brings Carolyn and Ipp of Proximate Futures Fund together for a conversation about what this looks like in practice.

If this is a question you’re grappling with, the be sure to watch, listen, or read this conversation! 🔗 https://bit.ly/4d5BYyU

10/02/2026

🤝🇳🇵 Accountability Lab Nepal served as a safe space during and after the protests in September last year.

Before the protests, young change makers would record podcasts, host discussions, and approach the team for advice or to brainstorm ideas. When the protests began, organizers and participants received digital security advice and could convene at the Lab offices when needed.

Prekkshya Bimali and Suvechchha Chapagain – both programming staff at AL Nepal – actively work to involve young people in governance processes. They share how institutionalizing Gen Z participation, tailor made mentoring, and legal support and advisory groups can begin to sustain the energy young people have put into making their demands known.

10/01/2026

💭 Should every new initiative become its own organization? Should every organization be built to last indefinitely?

In 'Beyond the Heroic NonProfit', Jacob Harold and Archie Kindon explore how mission-driven organizations can rethink their structures as circumstances change – from legal form and independence to what they might share or distribute.

🔎 Read the new report from Civic Strength Partners: https://bit.ly/4xHgXlF

Learn more about CSP: https://civicstrengthpartners.org/

09/30/2026

Earlier today, Open Government Partnership (OGP) spotlighted Blair’s reflections on the practice of open government. This tribute celebrates his contribution to putting those principles into action – and we’re proud to add our voices to that recognition.

As our Co-CEO Blair Glencorse concludes his time on the OGP Steering Committee, we join OGP in thanking him for his leadership, energy, and commitment. His dedication to bringing people together and advancing accountable governance is something we value deeply at Accountability Lab.

Congratulations, Blair, on this chapter of service and the contribution you’ve made alongside so many others. ✨ 👏 💫

Today, we’re saying thank you to the Government of and Blair Glencorse
as they conclude their time on the OGP Steering Committee.

Both played a leading role in guiding OGP as Co-Chairs in 2023–2024, helping strengthen political support for the Partnership, advance its action-oriented agenda, shape OGP's 2023–2028 strategy and champion new areas of work, including digital governance and youth engagement.

Since then, they have continued to contribute to the Steering Committee and the wider OGP community. In 2025, Kenya hosted the OGP Africa & Middle East Regional Meeting, bringing together more than 350 participants in Nairobi.

Thank you, Kenya and Blair, for your leadership, and commitment over the years.

09/30/2026

As Open Government Partnership marks 15 years, our Co-CEO, Blair Glencorse, who served as OGP’s civil society co-chair in 2023–2024, reflects on what that commitment looks like in practice.

Blair’s reflections speak to our work: building trust, strengthening meaningful participation, and supporting communities to shape the systems that govern their lives.

We’re proud to see Blair’s voice and experience recognized as part of this milestone, and to stand alongside a community committed to turning open government principles into lasting change.

09/29/2026

🎙️ What can funders learn by spending more time with the people doing the work?

In our AccountabiliTea conversation on shifting power, Lior Ipp of Proximate Futures Fund asks us to think about risk through that question. The closer funders are to organizations and the communities they work with, the more they can understand the decisions, relationships, and realities behind the work.

Lior joins Carolyn Dallmann of Humanity United and host Cheri-Leigh Erasmus for a conversation about how grantmaking can become more responsive to lived experience and local knowledge.

🎧 Watch or listen to 'Shifting Power: Innovative approaches to grantmaking', or read the transcript: https://bit.ly/4d5BYyU

09/28/2026

Who says civic learning belongs in a meeting room? 🏢

In western Liberia, Accountability Lab Liberia and local women-led partners took conversations about participation and leadership to the markets where women gather.

In Bomi, women described how a lack of information had made it harder to get involved in leadership. The market lectures created space to ask questions, talk about the power of their votes, and consider how they could support one another to lead.

This International Day for Universal Access to Information, their story asks us to think beyond whether information is available: who is it reaching, and where are the conversations happening?

🔗 Read the full story by Parnneh T. Mallobe: https://bit.ly/4yjPIyL

Integrity Icon Liberia