The views, insights and opinions expressed below are of the author(s) and are not Accountable Now’s. We are proud to amplify a range of diverse voices that help shape, challenge and push our work as well as the sector as a whole to “do good better.”
Working in Communications, I often get asked “Who makes up Accountable Now?”
You’d think that because my job is literally to communicate about the organization that I’d have a snappy concise answer. But it’s not really that straightforward. As you may have guessed, Accountable Now is not just one person or one organization. Accountable Now truly is a global community, with many incredible individuals contributing expertise, time, and passion in countless ways. And while this is a cliche movie motif, like “I am Spartacus” or “I am Radio Rebel” (I hope my fellow GenZ appreciate that reference!), it really rings true for Accountable Now. But, if you’re not in the network, maybe it feels more like the Wizard of Oz, and you find yourself asking – who is behind the curtain of Accountable Now?
Well, let me break down who makes up this global community that we are proud to call Accountable Now, and also share how soon they’ll be introducing themselves.
At the heart of Accountable Now is a team of accountability experts and practitioners from different sectors and geographies. Our small and mighty completely remote Secretariat has grown tremendously in recent years, and is currently made up of seven full-time staff. (When I first joined as a Fellow back in 2022, it was just three!) We frequently also have additional hands supporting fundraising, communications, and data management from solid part time contractors and fabulous interns. An integral pillar in our work is our Independent Review Panel, a group of experts in human rights, business, safeguarding, among many others, that provides thorough feedback on and collaborative support in strengthening Members’ accountability tools and practices. Their mandate is increasingly adapting to the needs of our Members and sectors. The third cohort of our central team is our Board of Trustees. Our Board is filled with strategic thinkers and changemakers, directing and governing our work. Approximately half of our Board Members come from our Member organizations, ensuring our work is in tune with the needs of our Members and the sector. While I’d love to gush more about my great colleagues, I encourage you to read more about the fine friends who currently serve in these positions on our Meet The Team page.
Early in 2026 the Secretariat got together for a team retreat. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to join, but this in-person connection and collaboration was so important for our globally spread team. From left to right: Joci, Zipporah, OJ, Caleb (Board Member), Megan, Shalom, and Bao Han.
Our flagship Membership Program is a key piece of the Accountable Now puzzle, as we were founded by and for civil society. Within our Member organizations, dedicated individuals, these AN Champions, liaise about the work of Accountable Now within their organizations. These passionate practitioners step up in their respective organizations to promote Dynamic Accountability, including participating in workshops and panels, co-creating learning materials, and developing Accountability Reports. Across our two decades, we’ve had over 60 Member Organizations come through our (now virtual) doors.
Speaking of doors, our physical doors are technically at the Accountability Lab offices in Washington DC, as they are our fiscal sponsors. Accountable Now is part of Accountability Lab’s Translocal Network, and while we maintain an independent Board of Trustees, one seat is reserved for a Member Representative seat for AL.
Other key partners in our network include our Global Standard Partners, our eleven sister accountability networks working around the world. Together we co-host the 12 Commitments, which remains the world’s only cross-sector, cross-regional accountability framework built from the bottom up by civil society itself.
Also in the Accountable Now network are partners and supporters. Increasingly, Accountable Now has been asked and selected to support research, cohort facilitation, and participatory processes, which expands our network even further, including young people and social movements around the world.
While I could go on and on about these fabulous folks and the incredible work they do, I actually don’t have to – because they will be sharing it themselves!
A screen grab from our 2026 AGM, the dynamic virtual meeting was filled with several Members from our Secretariat, IRP, Board, Member Organizations and our soon-to-be-announced Accountable Now Ambassador Network.
In reflecting on all of these people who make up Accountable Now today, it’s also so important to acknowledge that there have been hundreds of folks in the Accountable Now network since our founding. Celebrating 20 years of doing good better, we decided to round up some of them to share their thoughts on Accountable Now then, now, and tomorrow in a new campaign – 20 Reflections from 20 Years. For this campaign, we have invited past and current staff, IRP Members, Board Members, Representatives at Member Organizations. From Anabel Cruz, who was involved in conversations in the early 2000s that led to Accountable Now, to Leo Sim, whose organization Youth Path Agency just joined Accountable Now last year, we’ll be hearing from folks at every step of our journey.
What’s especially cool about this series is that each participant will have the same core questions, so we can really compare and contrast their experiences. Each reflection will be published independently, but after they are all up, we’ll take time to analyze them in conversation with each other.
I’m curious what themes will arise. I, of course, imagine we’ll learn a lot about the first hand power of Dynamic Accountability and intrinsic motivation. Maybe we’ll also hear about utilizing emerging technologies and more on the power shift agenda. I’m also sure there will be things that come up that we won’t even be able to predict – and that’s really exciting.
The 20 Reflections From 20 Years campaign kicks off this July. It will not only celebrate 20 Years of Accountable Now, but also pull back the curtain and show you a peak at the incredible people who make up Accountable Now.
Are you or were you part of Accountable Now throughout some point over the past two decades – whether through a Member organization, on our IRP, a past intern, or some other method? Please reach out to us: [email protected].
Celebrating our 20 Years in Focus Anniversary Campaign, this Insight launches our “20 Reflections From 20 Years” Series. This series gathers perspective from folks across AN’s two decades to reflect on Accountable Now then, now, and tomorrow.
Explore our 20 Years Library for other reflections, new resources, and upcoming events.
Accountable Now is committed to promoting a more just, equitable & accountable world. Do you have a story to share that demonstrates how organizations can strengthen their Dynamic Accountability practices?