Accountability Lab
05/18/2026
π‘ When traditional pathways to participation fall short, young people find new ways to be heard.
Join us for a virtual showcase featuring spoken word, music, and creative acts of protest and participation from around the world, followed by a panel on how young people are increasingly turning to music, spoken word, art, and storytelling as alternative pathways for civic engagement.
On our panel are creative change makers Amanda Chenai Makombe (Zimbabwe), Nishchhal Kharal (Nepal), Rafid Ariyan (Bangladesh), and Leiden Gomis (Mexico).
ποΈ Wednesday 20 May, 9am ET /1pm UTC
π Register here: https://bit.ly/3P9L59h
05/14/2026
What happens when the city you live in does not see you as part of it?
Weβre excited to share that Accountability Lab Mexico is premiering its documentary Del Papel al Territorio (From Paper to Territory) on YouTube today. π¬
In Mexico City, access to housing, public services, and even decision-making spaces is often shaped more by postal code than by peopleβs needs. Thousands of families living in self-built settlements continue to face barriers to information, services, and meaningful participation.
This documentary tells the story of Yuguelito, a community of more than 2,000 people in Iztapalapa that transformed an abandoned space into a self-organized neighborhood. Their experience with Mexico Cityβs Participatory Budget process reveals the gap between participation as it is designed and participation as it is actually lived.
Through this work, Accountability Lab Mexico supports communities in navigating public systems, strengthening accountability, and bridging the gap between citizens and institutions so governance can work for everyone.
Del Papel al Territorio is a powerful reminder that accessible and transparent participation is not just a policy issue, it is a matter of justice, especially for communities living on the urban periphery.
π₯ Watch their story and join the conversation: https://bit.ly/4wy7DRV
π£ Excited to share that our Co-CEO Blair Glencorse has joined the Strategy Steering Committee of the Youth Democracy Cohort (YDC).
As YDC evolves into a collaborative, member-driven network, its new governance structure puts members at the center, ensuring decision-making is more inclusive, representative, and grounded in their expertise.
The Steering Committee will:
π Guide strategy
π Strengthen youth participation
π Drive collective advocacy & partnerships
π Support inclusive, effective governance
Read more here: https://bit.ly/4d9XaDb
ππ As funding pressures grow and global dynamics shift, civil society organizations are being asked to adapt β often while continuing to deliver on their missions.
In this new episode of the AccountabiliTea Podcast episode, Cheri-Leigh Erasmus speaks with Anabel Cruz, Fay Hodza, and Leah Shearman to reflect on what this moment looks like in practice: from navigating constraints to rethinking collaboration, systems, and long-term sustainability.
What emerges is a grounded conversation on how the sector is responding β and what may come next.
π§ Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or via our website:οΏ½https://bit.ly/3QD0X4s
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