Accountability Lab is building a movement of active citizens and responsible leaders across West Africa and around the world. The organisation supports change-makers within those groups usually most excluded from decision-making- to develop ideas for integrity, learning and positive change in communities. By building diverse coalitions- and enabling people to use information and knowledge to find their voices and learn from one another- Accountability Lab supports stability and helps to unleash positive social and economic action.

AL achieves this change by implementing creative ideas with individuals and groups in the communities in which they live. AL runs positive engagement campaigns like Integrity Idol- which has been hugely popular in Mali- to lift up those working for citizens in the right way. The campaign links up these changemakers and is building creative coalitions of reformers who can push for integrity in their communities. These campaigns find innovative ways to engage citizens around the issues they care about- using music, film, media and technology.

AL also runs training and “incubator” programmes for excluded groups including young people, women and people with disabilities. AL works to build eco-systems and support coalitions of changemakers to ensure collective solutions to shared problems. For example, AL has built and now manages several “OpenGov Hubs” around the world- community and innovation spaces where artists, media makers, activists, entrepreneurs, government officials and creatives can come together to build movements for change.  AL has also developed “Citizen Helpdesks” in Mali and elsewhere through which volunteers are mobilised to systematically gather information on critical issues and close the feedback loop on challenges with the support of local government officials, the media and the international community. These Helpdesks have engaged thousands of citizens in meaningful efforts to work together to transform their circumstances.

The Accountability Lab has 6 years of experience piloting, linking and scaling grassroots accountability work in Mali, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, and Liberia.

Accountability Lab is the Linking and Learning Facilitator for Voice in Mali and Niger. Voice Linking and Learning refers to the total of activities, processes and trajectories realised to boost collaboration, connectedness, sharing, listening, learning, innovation and innovation of new knowledge among Voice grantees and other stakeholders. It aims to produce evidence, learning and innovative solutions to catalyse transformative change for the most marginalised and discriminated groups.

Accountability Lab supports Voice grantees in developing their own linking and learning as well as amplify the linking and learning to national, regional and international level. They promote participation of members of the Voice target groups and facilitate building communities of practice around issues and challenges that concern them. They develop a platform that supports inclusive collaboration, including community members in geographically remote areas. They organise events and meetings, develop thought provoking pieces, and produce creative works in order to amplify the grantees’ voices at the local, regional, and national level.

Accountability Lab works in straight collaboration and coordination with Voice Mali and Niger as well as Global Coordination Team.