Become a Member
At Accountable Now we believe it is time to fundamentally change approaches to accountability in the civil society sector. Accountability needs to be based on a truly global understanding and it needs to move from a passive reporting exercise to a tool that promotes active stakeholder engagement.
This can only happen with a strong network of partners. We team up with experts from within and outside the sector and thought-leaders from across the world. We encourage all networks, organisations or individuals interested in partnering with us to advance to agenda of Dynamic Accountability to get in touch.
Membership Tiers
tier 1:
full member
Full Members lead the charge in accountability excellence; shaping sector standards. They publicly share practices, receive Independent Review Panel feedback, and contribute strategically to accountability across the sector.
Through their commitments to regular, transparent reporting, application of the Global Standard for CSO accountability, and continual focus on accountability, Tier 1 members model dynamic accountability for the sector.
tier 2:
associate member
Associate Members receive comprehensive support, including accompaniment for dynamic accountability action planning, access to AN’s global community, and enjoy substantial discounts on AN offers and support.
Through their participation and engagement with AN’s support, tools, and global network, Tier 2 Members demonstrate robust commitment to dynamic accountability.
tier 3:
friends of an
Friends of AN join our community for learning, networking, and professional development opportunities.
Through active participation in peer exchange, use of self-guided tools and resources, and exploration to integrate the 12 Commitments into their work, Tier 3 members signal interest in learning and growing their dynamic accountability muscles.
Check out our Membership Brochure and view the table below to learn about our full membership offer.
Member Benefits & Services
Were you an Accountable Now member on or before December 31st 2023? View our grandfathered fees here.
Benefits & Services
Full Member
Associate Member
Friend of AN
Unaffiliated Organisation
Become part of the dynamic accountability movement and lets work together in collaboration so that:
CSOs are more valued and trusted
People and the planet are at the centre of CSO’s work
CSOs are able to deliver better, more long lasting impact
Which Membership Tier is Right for Us?
Tier 1 Members
Tier 1 members are committed to accountability excellence and learning, including through regular review and reflection and articulation of standards and best practices for the sector.
Through reporting and action planning, Tier 1 members publicly share their practices, receive feedback from the Independent Review Panel, and continuously refine and expand their accountability mandates and practices. Tier 1 members play a unique role as strategic contributors to accountability in the sector overall. They can become member representatives on AN’s Board and provide strategic leadership to Accountable Now. Tier 1 members benefit from all of Accountable Now’s offers, including unlimited Help Desk support and receiving 3-5 hours of tailor-made training and support from our in-house experts.
Tier 2 Associate Members
Tier 3 Friends of Accountable Now
Tier 3: Friends of Accountable Now enjoy access to the community, networking, collaboration and peer-to-peer learning opportunities, alongside discounts for all of our other offers and support. Not only so, Tier 3 Members can use our resource library for self-guided learning, with a range of templates, guidance materials and good practice being made available. For smaller and community based organizations, contributions can be made in kind. Tier 3 members can access the helpdesk once per year, participate actively in peer to peer learning and joint advocacy in the network, and join as observers and advisers to formal member voting proceedings.
How to Join
Are you interested in embedding dynamic accountability into your organisation? If your organisation meets our requirements listed below, you can apply for membership.
If you are interested in becoming an Accountable Now member, please contact Bao Han Tran Le at [email protected], copying in our institutional email address [email protected]. Accountable Now’s Board reviews all applications and has the final decision regarding membership.
Membership is available for all CSOs who:
- Undertake operational and/or advocacy activities in the public interest on issues that benefit the environment, society as a whole or a group in particular, as well as foundations contributing to the funding of such activities.
- Have a mission and mandate that require the organisation to work predominantly internationally, or to work on international issues. Organisations with a national work focus are only eligible for Membership if they work in countries where no equivalent national accountability framework is available.
- Have activities and management practices which are consistent with and supportive of the vision, purpose and objectives of Accountable Now;
- Will embrace, comply with and promote the Accountable Now Accountability Commitments (as amended from time to time) in its entirety;
- Have been in existence with due diligence (valid legal registration, published annual reports and annual externally audited account) for at least three years;
- Have a complaints handling mechanism for internal and external complaints in place or give written consent that it will be fully implemented by the time the first Accountability Report is submitted;
- Apply for Accountable Now Membership in the form required by the Board;
- Are approved by a majority of 75% of the Board
- Fulfil all Membership obligations (see following tab)
Full Members and Affiliate Members are:
- Entitled to attend Annual General Meetings
- Entitled to attend workshops, trainings, webinars and peer-review sessions organised by Accountable Now
- Entitled to participate in expert networks as organised by Accountable Now;
- Entitled to be listed on Accountable Now’s website as Full Members or Affiliate Members;
- Required to pay Membership fees as set by the Board;
- Required to report annually against the Accountable Now Accountability Commitments in line with the Reporting Requirements set by the Board at the same level of quality for the entire organisation/s they subscribed for
- Entitled and required to have their Accountability Reports vetted by the Independent Review Panel and the feedback to be published on Accountable Now’s website.
- Entitled to use the Accountable Now logo for the organisation or part of organisation (e.g. only headquarter) which has become a Member.
Only Full Members are:
- Entitled to lodge proposals and have a vote at Annual General Meetings. The voting right of national entities shall be exercised through the international secretariat/ headquarter unless the latter is itself not a Member. The voting right is limited to one vote for one international organisation;
- Entitled to nominate persons to stand for election to the Board.
In order for Accountable Now to be financially self-sustaining, the management and administration costs need to be covered by the Member Organisations. Accountable Now Members are requested to pay an annual Membership fee. The Membership fee has to be paid in full for the entire Membership year which runs from January to December. If Members do not pay their fee, their Membership will eventually be terminated.
The Membership fees are based on the annual income of the Member Organisation. To calculate the Membership fee, the latest available annual income of the Member Organisation is used; this is either the income of the entire organisation or of the entity which joined Accountable Now. Donations in kind are not included when calculating annual income.
Members wishing to withdraw from Accountable Now have to give written notice of resignation to the Secretariat at least four months before the end of the year, i.e. by September 1, for the resignation to be effective as of January 1 of the following year. Members will then be asked to fill in a form explaining the reasons why they wish to withdraw and formally hand it in. In case a Member withdraws after September 1, it will be requested to pay the Membership fee for the following year.
Organisations meeting Accountable Now’s requirements are welcome to apply for membership. Accountable Now’s Board reviews all applications and has the final decision.
After getting in touch with our Executive Director, you will be asked to provide information on how your organisation fulfils Accountable Now’s membership criteria.
The full membership criteria, rights and obligations can be accessed here. For information about membership fees and requirements to withdraw Accountable Now membership, click here.
Please note that your application form will first be checked by Accountable Now’s Secretariat who might contact you to request additional information. Your application form will then be passed on to Accountable Now’s Board who makes all decisions regarding membership.
In case your application is accepted, your organisation will be granted an affiliate membership status until your first accountability report against the 12 Accountability Commitments has been submitted and approved by the Independent Review Panel. Your organisation will then become a full member.
If you are interested in becoming an Accountable Now member please contact Megan Colnar at [email protected], expressing your interest.
If you are interested in learning more about our fee structure or the different ways that we support our members, please reach out to: [email protected].
