2014 in Review and What to Look out for in 2015!

It’s been an exciting year for the Accountability Lab, from launching Integrity Idol in Nepal to playing a key role in addressing Liberia’s Ebola crisis to setting up an OpenGov Hub in Nepal. In addition, we consolidated our management and oversight structures, including a reorganized board and public quarterly impact calls (learn more here, and stay tuned for the next call on January 5th). We received great recognition of our work, including the World Technology Award, Echoing Green Fellowship, Social Media for Empowerment Award, Ivy Film Award, HiiL Innovating Justice Awards Popular Vote, BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Award, and more.

What Can You Learn About Entrepreneurship in Three Days? Plenty

This post was originally published on the Points of Light Blog.

When you bring entrepreneurs together, ideas fly, networks grow and partnerships emerge. We got to see all three happen recently in New York during a three-day gathering of the spring 2014 class of the Points of Light Civic Accelerator.

Through the accelerator – a 12-week boot camp for entrepreneurs of startup ventures that aim to serve the greater good – 14 fledgling enterprises are learning from experienced leaders in various fields, and each other. Here’s a taste of what happened in New York May 19 – 21.

The Accountability Lab Supports Youth Anti-Corruption Efforts in Liberia

By Brooks Marmon (Accountability Architect) and Francis Lansana (Accountability Resident) in Liberia.

The Lab’s Accountability Representative in Liberia, Lawrence Yealue, joined a growing network of media practitioners, civil society anti-corruption crusaders, and government officials on May 30 to deliver remarks at the 2nd Edition of the Voices against Corruption Forum hosted by the Global Youth Anti-Corruption Network – Liberia (GYAC). Lawrence’s participation in the Forum signaled that the Lab’s work is gaining momentum and that we are joined by a diverse array of allies in our efforts.

Design Thinking for Accountability

This post was originally published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

A new community justice system in Liberia emerges from a design-thinking approach.

By Blair Glencorse

Last year, in the West Point township of Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia, an enterprising community leader named Thomas Tweh found himself with a serious problem. West Point crams more than 75,000 citizens into a square mile patch of land by the Atlantic Ocean—and life is very hard. Space is limited, incomes are low, formal jobs are few, and basic services are almost non-existent.

Liberia: A Journalist, a Blackboard, Some Chalk and Open Government.

By Julio Urdenata, Global Integrity. This is the second entry in the “No Hash Tag blog series: Low-Tech Approaches to Open Government and Transparency” and was originally published on the Global Integrity blog.

He is widely read and respected; yet he does not work for any media company.

Accountability in Liberia: Creativity, Innovation and Potential

By Yasmin Anis, Accountability Lab Summer Resident. It has been a whirlwind of a first week since I landed in Monrovia. As with any new place, you attempt to take in your surroundings while your brain frantically compiles a group of initial observations. These then begin to transform into broader themes you discover about the place you are now experiencing.

Small Initiatives with Big Impact in Biratnagar

By Narayan Adhikari, Nepal Country Representative. The eastern Terai of Nepal, close to the Indian border, is hot at this time of year- very hot. And the mosquitos are relentless- if you’re not from around here you find yourself thinking constantly about a place to sit under a strong fan and a bottle of cold water.

Changing Accountability Mindsets: From Workshops and Reports to Professors and Imams

This piece was originally posted on the Transparency International Blog. Working on accountability in difficult contexts, it does not take long to realize the key shortcomings of established approaches to these issues- expensive workshops are held, lengthy papers are written and complex logframes are completed, but little changes on the ground.

Entrepreneurship and Accountability: The Perfect Partners for Liberia

The BSC and Accountability Lab office in Monrovia

By Briana Thompson, Accountability Fellow. One of my favorite economists, Abhijit Banerjee, presented an approach to economic growth at the 2008 Brookings Global Economy and Development Conference that’s fairly consistent with my beliefs: “maybe all that happens is that something goes right for once… and then that sparks growth… The best we can do in that world is to hold the fort till that initial spark arrives; make sure that there is not too much human misery, maintain the social equilibrium, try to make sure that there is enough human capital around to take advantage of the spark when it arrives.

Molly Hellerman joins the Lab’s Kitchen Cabinet!

The Accountability Lab is very pleased to announce that Molly Hellerman has joined the Lab’s “Kitchen Cabinet” of close operational advisors. The Kitchen Cabinet acts as a sounding board for the Lab’s work and is composed of amazing people from across the public, private and non-profit sectors.