Working closely with Members and other International CSOs, we strive to work across a global CSO accountability network on a variety of projects and initiatives. Find out more about the exciting projects being undertaken by us around the world.

Accountability in Action

Our Projects

People-Powered Accountability

Accountable Now’s People-Powered Accountability project moved from framework to practice — publishing the New Accountability Paradigm report, six CSO Action Guides for different organisational roles, and piloting real processes for stakeholder-driven decision making with six organisations across the world. The work directly shaped Accountable Now’s approach to Dynamic Accountability.
Funded By: Oak Foundation
Partners: CIVICUS

Digital Accountability

Launched under the INGO Accountability Charter, the Digital Accountability project brought together thought leaders from leading international and digital civil society organisations to ask: what does accountability look like when you are working with people, not just for them? The group developed six key principles of an emerging accountability paradigm, a practical Quick Check Tool, and a landmark outcome report — produced at a convening at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Centre in 2016.
Funded By: Rockefeller Foundation, Feedback Labs Collaboration Fund
Partners: Amnesty International, Greenpeace International, Oxfam, Transparency International, 350.org, 38 Degrees, Purpose, Tactical Technology Collective
Recognising the enormous, but largely untapped, potential of youth civil society in the moment of the largest youth generation in history – the Development Alternative was created to shift power and turn traditional development on its head through leveraging the potential and agency of young people and communities to accelerate development outcomes. 
For: FCDO
Partners: Restless Development, DOT Lebanon, Intregrity Action, INTRAC, War Child, Y Care International, YMCA Madagascar
The Resilient Roots initiative, coordinated by CIVICUS and in collaboration with Accountable Now, Keystone Accountability and Instituto de Comunicación y Desarrollo, aimed to test whether organisations who are more accountable and responsive to their roots – namely, their primary constituencies – are more resilient against external threats. From 2017 – 2020, the initiative worked with 14 national partner civil society organisations (CSOs) of varying size, focus, location and approach, to help them design and implement year-long pilot projects aiming to increase accountability to the people and communities impacted by their work.
Funded By: Ford Foundation
Partners: CIVICUS, Keystone Accountability, and Instituto de Comunicación y Desarrollo/Rendir Cuentas
Accountable Now partnered with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) to investigate why philanthropic funding for complex humanitarian emergencies remains limited despite escalating global need. Using a mixed-methods approach, we explored what motivates funders who engage in these contexts, what prevents new or expanded giving, and how those barriers can be overcome.
For: the Center for Disaster Philanthropy
The Global Standard Partnership aims to transform CSOs’ work for strengthened impact and resilience by becoming more transparent, responsive and accountable towards the people whom they work for and with. Accountable Now co-created the 12 Accountability Commitments, hosted the Secretariat until 2023, and supported the transition to a decentralised model where partners collectively drive implementation and reform.
Funded By: SIDA
Partners: DENIVA, PHE Ethiopia, VANI, Rendir Cuentas, Viwango, WACSI, Warande Advisory, BCSDN, ACFID, CCC

Board Induction, Cohort Building, and Training on Dynamic Accountability

The World Organisation of the Scout Movement is working to strengthen youth leadership by bringing more young people into its Board and decision-making roles. Accountable Now is supporting this effort by designing and facilitating the Board’s first in-person meeting, mapping key skills, and building cohesion for an effective multi-generational leadership body.
For: World Organization of Scouts Movement

Design and Accompaniment for the Collective Action Assistance Fund

Humanity United is launching a multi-donor pooled fund to provide flexible, participatory support for people-powered movements, ensuring those with lived experience help shape its strategy and design. Accountable Now is supporting the Fund’s design and launch by building the structures and practices needed to align with its values and empower movements for lasting change.
For: Humanity United

Civil Society and Leadership Initiative Global Learning Partnership

Accountable Now is partnering with the Packard Foundation’s Civil Society and Leadership (CSL) initiative to build an evidence-informed learning system that strengthens adaptive decision-making across diverse civic space contexts. In Phase I, we are mapping and synthesizing data, generating insights, and facilitating reflection sessions to inform strategic planning. In Phase II, we are supporting deeper country-level engagement, co-developing outcome and learning frameworks, and guiding ongoing learning processes across geographies. This multi-phase collaboration integrates research, facilitation, and systems thinking to help CSL better understand outcomes, respond to complexity, and support resilient, locally rooted civil society.
Partners: Packard Foundation

Facilitating a Virtual Community for the City Shapers

Following the momentum of the City Shapers’ in-person engagement at WUF12, Accountable Now partnered with Fondation Botnar to help transition the cohort into a sustainable, youth-driven virtual community. The project focuses on maintaining the connections and shared purpose built during the forum while enabling ongoing collaboration and learning across a global network. Accountable Now is facilitating a co-creation process with the City Shapers, hosting regular touchpoints and guiding the development of a community shaped by their needs, voices, and ambitions.
Partners: Fondation Botnar

City Shapers at WUF12

Accountable Now partnered with Fondation Botnar to prepare and support its City Shapers youth cohort for meaningful participation at the World Urban Forum 2024 (WUF12). Many delegates were new to international convenings, so the project focused on holistic, human-centred preparation. Accountable Now provided strategic guidance, designed and delivered preparatory workshops, curated content, and facilitated daily onsite sessions to build confidence, connection, and learning.
Partners: Fondation Botnar
FSC is a unique network for philanthropic funders where you can share, learn, and access support from experts and peers alike. They walk alongside funders on their safeguarding journey, helping them to implement practices that make their organization and the organizations they fund, safer. As part of their mission, the FSC is looking to create a set of evidence-based funder standards on safeguarding.
For: Funder Safeguarding Collaborative (FSC)
Funded By: Funder Safeguarding Collaborative (FSC)

Coalition governance, strategy, and renewal

Accountable Now partnered with the Global Democracy Coalition (GDC) to strengthen and formalise its governance and strategic direction as the network evolved beyond its initial launch-phase structures. With the coalition taking on more complex programming, Accountable Now reviewed and updated its governance model, decision-making processes, and strategic framework. Through extensive consultation with the Steering Group, member organisations, and the host institution, we introduced more democratic, consent-based approaches and clarified roles and responsibilities better positioning the GDC for coherent, inclusive, and future-focused collaboration.
For: the Global Democracy Coalition (hosted by International IDEA)

Research on NGO Accountability and Self-Regulation

By the University of Bath and the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO)

The University of Bath is conducting research on NGO accountability, looking at self-regulatory initiatives like Accountable Now. The researchers have asked us to share a bit more about their work as well as a call for survey submissions:

“We invite you to share your insights as part of a University of Bath research project on NGO accountability. Your responses will contribute to advancing understanding of accountability practices in the sector, with particular attention to the role and impact of Accountable Now as a self-regulatory initiative. We are especially interested in members’ perspectives on the evolving accountability landscape, including the challenges and opportunities it presents.”

– Research Team from the University of Bath

Please note: this research is not conducted by Accountable Now and we are just helping our Members become aware of it. Please direct any questions to the contacts listed on the survey.

Our Projects

Past Projects and Initiatives

The Resilient Roots initiative

The Resilient Roots initiative, coordinated by CIVICUS and in collaboration with Accountable Now, Keystone Accountability and Instituto de Comunicación y Desarrollo, aimed to test whether organisations who are more accountable and responsive to their roots – namely, their primary constituencies – are more resilient against external threats.

 

From 2017 – 2020, the initiative worked with 14 national partner civil society organisations (CSOs) of varying size, focus, location and approach, to help them design and implement year-long pilot projects aiming to increase accountability to the people and communities impacted by their work.

The Development Alternative

Recognising the enormous, but largely untapped, potential of youth civil society in the moment of the largest youth generation in history – the Development Alternative was created to shift power and turn traditional development on its head through leveraging the potential and agency of young people and communities to accelerate development outcomes. 

The Development Alternative is a consortium of organisations, led by Restless Development, including Accountable Now, DOT LebanonIntegrity ActionINTRACWar ChildY Care International.

From 2019 – 2021, the consortium worked closely with young people and their communities, and youth-led and focused organisations to co-design approaches to development that ensure these groups define, own and lead solutions to the problems they face.