Accountabili-TEA Podcast

Young civil society leaders in Nepal and Bangladesh are contributing to democracy through locally relevant ideas and creative strategies. They often lack resources, networks and necessary structures, but with the right support, they have been able to build their initiatives and make an impact. In this episode Accountabilitea host Kibo Ngowi speaks to three incredible young people who are working to make  an impact in their communities through initiatives ranging from anti-corruption to gender equality: Manish Pokhrel is an accountapreneur of AL Nepal’s Accountability Incubator programme and has worked to weave education on transparency, accountability and governance into grade 9 and 10 school curriculums.  Two of our guests Fariha Aumi and Tamima Nasrin are participating in the Manusher Jonno Foundation’s Youth Engagement and Democracy project in Bangladesh. Fariha asks the question ‘Why should youth whose futures will be most affected by climate change not be at the forefront of forming climate policies?’. Her work focuses on involving young people in climate decision making  through activism and capacity building. Tamima works to advance the rights and protections of women and girls with She Equal. The organization aims to mobilize youth volunteers, and provide psychosocial support to survivors to get legal remedies and healthcare services. Soni Khanal, AL Nepal’s Learning Manager, shares the overlapping concerns of the youth in Bangladesh and Nepal that inspired a collaboration agreement between MJF and AL Nepal. She also highlights how the two organizations are working to build a network of changemakers within the countries and regionally.  These exceptional young people remind others who are as moved by social issues the importance of just starting – no matter how small the initial contribution.  They also share the skills and networks they’ve gained by participating in youth-centric programs that have brought them together across borders to share insights and learnings.

From Pakistan to Nigeria and the United States to New Zealand, join host Kibo Ngowi in this special edition of the Accountabili-TEA podcast as we take a deep dive into youth and democratic participation across the world. Did you know that globally, only about 47.7 percent of young people aged 18 to 29 participate in national elections? This percentage varies significantly across countries, revealing a stark contrast in youth engagement. The numbers tell a story of low voter turnout, which reflects a troubling lack of interest, trust issues, and dissatisfaction with democratic processes. But it's not just about casting ballots; many young people feel that their voices go unheard in important government decisions. In a UN survey, a staggering 76 percent of individuals under 30 stated that politicians don't listen to them. In Spain, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, these numbers are even higher. This disconnection is not merely a perception; it's a reality, with 69 percent of countries restricting young people from running for office, even though they can vote. In fact, a mere 2.6 percent of the world's parliamentarians are under 30, highlighting a significant gap between young citizens and their governments. In this episode, Kibo Ngowi engages with three remarkable guests who provide insights and solutions to bridge this divide: Samson Itodo, a seasoned community organiser, and development practitioner who led the "Not Too Young To Run" movement in Nigeria. Samson shares the key lessons from Nigeria's recent elections and discusses the impact on youth participation in politics. Amna Rajput, a Project Manager at Accountability Lab Pakistan, shares the essential hopes and expectations of Pakistani youth going into the upcoming elections. She also sheds light on the challenges of young people's disillusionment with electoral politics and alternative ways they are engaging with democracy. Aksel Sundström, an Associate Professor at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, co-author of the book "Youth without Representation," explores the global trend of youth exclusion from political offices and the reasons behind it. He delves into the disillusionment of young voters and the other avenues through which young people are shaping their nations. As we delve into these conversations, a few key takeaways emerge. Youth-led activist movements worldwide show that young people are far from apathetic about democracy; they just lack faith in formal processes like elections. To change this, political parties must go beyond token appeals to young voters and actively involve them in leadership positions and as political candidates.  The myth that only older individuals are fit for democratic leadership needs to be systematically challenged by removing age barriers. Empowering young people is not just a moral imperative; it's essential for addressing global issues like climate change, inequality, and conflict. Their perspectives and ideas are vital for shaping a brighter future.

Join host Kibo Ngowi in this special episode of the Accountabili-TEA podcast as he delves deep into the crucial issue of climate justice. Climate justice is all about ensuring that everyone, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized communities, is treated fairly and equitably in the face of climate change. Kibo is joined by four incredible guests: Prekkshya Bimali, a Program Officer at Accountability Lab Nepal; Urusha Lamsal, a climate fellow with AL Nepal; Grace Sinaga, the Communications and Knowledge Management team lead at the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA); and Ben Bakalovic, an Operations and Strategy Analyst at GPSA. Together, they shed light on the urgent need to address the impact of climate change and advocate for the involvement of local communities, indigenous groups, and civil society in decision-making processes. The episode opens with a comprehensive overview of climate justice and its importance in tackling the uneven consequences of climate change. The discussion then shifts to the groundbreaking climate fellowship undertaken by AL Nepal, which sought to empower youth as climate change advocates and bridge the gap between local communities and authorities. Prekkshya and Urusha share their experiences and highlight the differential impacts of climate change on women, indigenous communities, and vulnerable populations. Grace provides a vital perspective from the GPSA, emphasizing the significance of green accountability and the need to include communities on the frontline of climate crises in shaping climate finance and solutions. She draws parallels from Indonesia and Australia, showcasing how community-driven approaches yield more effective and sustainable results. Ben explores measures to ensure responsible utilization of climate finance, touching upon transparency, participation, and accountability as the key pillars. He stresses the importance of harnessing the power of civil society to drive climate action effectively. Throughout the episode, the team emphasizes the significance of elevating voices from marginalized communities and promoting their inclusion in decision-making processes. The podcast also discusses short films produced during the climate fellowship, showcasing the impact of climate change on local communities and their efforts to seek solutions. In conclusion, the guests express their hope for a more just and equitable climate finance ecosystem and call for collective action to address the global climate crisis. They invite listeners to engage with the green accountability initiative and spread awareness about climate justice through social media and the GPSA website.

In this episode of the Accountabili-TEA Podcast, AL Communications Director Sheena Adams engages in a conversation with the three co-CEOs of Accountability Lab: Blair Glencorse, Jean Scrimgeour, and Cheri-Leigh Erasmus. The episode explores the organization's recent transition to a co-leadership structure and delves into the motivations behind this change. The co-CEOs share their personal journeys and experiences with Accountability Lab. Blair Glencorse, the Lab's founder, recounts how his interactions with young people in Nepal highlighted the importance of accountability and inspired the creation of the organization. Jean Scrimgeour and Cheri-Leigh Erasmus discuss their paths to joining the Lab, emphasizing their alignment with its vision and values. The conversation then shifts to the evolution of the Lab's leadership structure. Blair explains that the Lab has always aimed to be a distributed and horizontally organized institution, prioritizing the empowerment of local accountability initiatives. The transition to a co-leadership model represents a natural progression, fueled by the development of a strong and complementary leadership team. Sheena Adams highlights the intentional nature of this change, emphasizing the goals of promoting diversity, equity, and shared decision-making. Cheri-Leigh Erasmus stresses the importance of giving underrepresented voices influence within nonprofit organizations and the sector as a whole. The co-CEOs express their hopes that this new leadership model will inspire others to rethink their own organizational structures and encourage greater representation and influence for women and people of color. Jean Scrimgeour then discusses the benefits of the co-leadership structure, particularly in navigating the increasing complexity of the nonprofit sector. The model allows each co-CEO to focus on their strengths while sharing responsibility and supporting one another. By creating space for personal lives and diverse perspectives, the co-leaders believe they can bring more innovative ideas and contribute to a stronger organization. Throughout the episode, the co-CEOs reflect on the Lab's journey, emphasizing the value of collaboration, inclusion, and shared power. They discuss their aspirations for the Lab's future and the potential impact of their co-leadership model on the broader sector. Join us as we delve into the motivations, benefits, and significance of the Lab's new co-leadership structure, highlighting our commitment to diversity, equity, and collaborative decision-making for a more accountable world.

In the latest episode of the Accountabili-TEA podcast, host Cheri-Leigh Erasmus is joined by two special guests, MI Abaga and Nora Rahimian, who are longtime supporters of Accountability Lab. MI Abaga is a prominent rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer from Nigeria, while Nora Rahimian is the President of Incredible Music and the CEO of culture fix, a global network using creativity for social impact. The episode explores the power of music as a tool for social change and accountability. Nora shares her experience working in Liberia, where she realized the potential of artists to influence and inspire people. She believes that leveraging the relationship between artists and their fans can drive behavioral and emotional change on social justice issues. MI Abaga discusses his journey into music and his commitment to social causes. Inspired by artists like Fela Kuti, who challenged the government and spoke truth to power, MI emphasizes the connection between his values, beliefs, and music. He shares his involvement in election campaigns and the creation of TASCK Creative Agency to engage musicians in social and political issues. Nora highlights the importance of authenticity and genuine engagement from artists when using music as a vehicle for social change. She emphasizes the need for real action and long-term commitment, rather than just performative gestures on social media. Nora also emphasizes the emotional power of music in driving urgency and fostering a deeper connection to social justice issues. MI reflects on his efforts to bridge the north-south divide in Nigeria's music industry. He discusses initiatives to support artists from the north and provide them with opportunities to succeed. MI also addresses the gender imbalance in the industry and the importance of creating a safe and inclusive space for women. He advocates for involving women in decision-making processes and actively listening to their voices. Throughout the episode, both MI Abaga and Nora Rahimian emphasize the need for artists to use their platforms responsibly and authentically. They stress the importance of taking real action, engaging with fans, and addressing social justice issues beyond superficial gestures. By leveraging the emotional power of music, artists have the potential to drive significant social change and foster a more accountable society. Overall, the episode serves as an inspiring and thought-provoking exploration of how music can be a catalyst for social change, and how artists can play a crucial role in promoting accountability and justice in their communities.

In this episode, Marketing & Communications Officer, Kibo Ngowi, discusses the Lab's strategy for the 2020 to 2026 period with a cross-section of the Lab's leadership from across the world. The guests are Cheri-Leigh Erasmus, AL Global Director of Learning; Doussouba Konaté, the Country Director for AL Mali; McDonald Lewanika, the Country Director of AL Zimbabwe; and Fayyaz Yaseen, the Country Director of AL Pakistan. During the episode, they discussed the country directors retreat in Zimbabwe, which was a good opportunity for the Lab’s leadership to unpack how the translocal structure should work in practice. It allowed them to develop a shared understanding of what they meant by translocal and what kind of structure could carry the translocal network. The retreat operationalized the cross-pollination of ideas and dispersion of knowledge, enabling peers to learn from and with each other and feedback on each other's ideas. The discussion also highlighted the crises that have centered the importance of accountability and open governance in Pakistan. Fayyaz, the Country Director of AL Pakistan, noted that Pakistan is an example of governance failure among developing countries. The economic situation is precarious, and there are various political, religious, and ethnic divisions. The strategy document includes the promotion of civic engagement and inclusion as the central piece of any solution, and digitization of the government to minimize human interaction with public officials and openness of the government. Doussouba Konaté talks about the situation in Mali, including governance failure and rampant corruption, which has led to insecurity in the country and neighboring nations. Doussouba describes how Accountability Lab is engaging the population through innovative approaches like the Film Fellowship program, which gives a voice to women to tell their stories and address issues they face.  She also emphasizes the importance of training young civil society leaders to embody the values of integrity and accountability. Lastly, she shares an example of how Accountability Lab supports honest civil servants in their fight against corruption and impunity. Despite the challenges, Doussouba believes there is a willingness among the population to bring positive change and that they are on the right path. Cheri discusses the four priority strategic themes that the Accountability Lab has chosen to focus on over the next three years: Inclusion, Climate Justice, Digital Governance, and Civic Agency. She explains that these themes have emerged from the work the organization is already doing across different countries and are deeply embedded in what they do. Inclusion is crucial for accountability because it is impossible to have a conversation about accountability of power holders in a country without considering who is being represented and included in the decision-making process. Climate justice is also essential to ensure that marginalized people, who are often most affected by natural disasters, are included in policymaking processes. Digital governance and civic agency are also important areas that the Accountability Lab is working on, equipping reformers with a passion for creating a more equitable digital governance space and empowering communities to co-create solutions. These themes intersect with accountability and have underpinned the work of the Accountability Lab.

Accountable Now is a membership network that works with civil society organizations from across the world on improving accountability practices through a comprehensive reporting process. Originally established in 2008 by 10 CSOs, the network now has 24 Member organizations which are active in more than 150 countries. Host Kibo Ngowi speaks to Rocio Moreno Lopez, Accountable Now’s Executive Director, and Jean Scrimgeour, Accountability Lab’s Global Director of Operations & Growth.

Voice to Represent (“Voice2Rep”) is a first-of-its-kind music competition searching for underground and undiscovered music artists who support greater representation, participation and accountability across Nigeria, Liberia and Zimbabwe. In this episode host Kibo Ngowi chats to two alumni of AL Zimbabwe's Voice2Rep program - Tanaka Stephen Moyo aka Ndonzi Beats and Rudo Nyoni aka Rudo Amor - about their experiences being part of the Voice2Rep program and gets the inside scoop on the inspiration and creation of the songs they produced during the process that made it onto the V2R album Power. To create the album Power, all the artists of the 2021 cohort gathered at a house in Harare for an intense week of learning, collaboration and music production as the artists were trained on how to infuse socially conscious themes into their music.

In July, Accountability Lab partnered with the Center for International Private Enterprise and the U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Intl Narcotics & Law Enforcement (INL) to host HackCorruption, a hybrid tech4good event that brought together a hundred participants from 6 Southern and East African countries. The participants were split into teams where they worked together to create innovative solutions to corruption problems with the support of mentors and experts.  Over the course of a three-day event in Johannesburg, South Africa, these teams refined and built prototypes of their solutions and pitched them live to a panel of judges. Three teams were chosen as the winners and will now receive funding of up to US$10,000 and mentorship to further develop their tools.   Host Kibo Ngowi spoke to two of the winning participants from the top place team and the runner-up team respectively. He also spoke to AL’s Global Learning Director Cheri Leigh-Erasmus who spearheaded the organization of HackCorruption.

Youth participation in the OGP process has challenged governments to be more ambitious. Young people have shaped national and local agendas, and pushed for reforms that otherwise would not have taken place. But there are also gaps and this is what led to the creation of the OGP Youth Toolkit. Host Kibo Ngowi spoke to AL Programs & Learning Manager Sanjeeta Pant, who played a leading role in the creation of the toolkit, and Youth Advocates Ghana Youth Engagement & Advocacy Officer Francis Ametepey, who was also involved in the creation process to unpack what the toolkit is and how it is envisioned to drive youth engagement.