About Us
TAI connects and leverages the deep expertise and leadership of those who fund programming related to trust, accountability, and inclusion. We provide a space for them to learn from each other and build new thinking and action. Our members come together to strategize, evolve funder practices, and expand the funder ecosystem. TAI helps members serve disadvantaged communities and support their inclusive grantmaking, further enhancing the impact of their efforts. TAI also acts as a bridge with the field, assuring flows of knowledge and exchange on evidence, funding trends, and pain points in the funder ecosystem. Join us!
We envision a society where
People are informed and empowered
Governments are open and responsive
Public good is enhanced through civic engagement and collective action
Our Vision
A just world where trust, accountability, and inclusion are integrated into all systems of governance. These are the foundations of a healthy democracy, economy, and planet.
Our Mission
We learn, strategize, and collaborate to enhance the impact of participatory governance funding.
Our Members
Our members recognize that governance challenges are complex and cross-cutting. They warrant a collaborative approach. TAI donors work together with partners around the globe to strengthen trust, and accountability and inclusion around the world through participatory approaches.
Bilateral donors with a track record of funding participatory governance, such as the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, regularly participate in TAI conversations as official observers.
Learn more about each member below.
Our team
TAI’s small and nimble team helps donors identify new opportunities for collaboration, supports design of out-of-the-box solutions and helps produce and share knowledge.
Staff
Michael Jarvis
Executive DirectorMichael Jarvis joined TAI after almost two decades working on different aspects of the global good governance and development agenda. He has led the development of TAI’s new strategy and approach, and directs engagement across the new priorities for the donor members.
Prior to joining TAI in 2016, Michael was the Global Lead for Extractives Governance within the World Bank Group’s Governance Global Practice. He led the institution’s programming to reinforce knowledge, learning and innovative approaches to strengthening good governance in the critical oil, gas and mining sectors. Overall, Michael worked over ten years with the World Bank in a variety of roles relating to anti corruption, private sector partnerships for development, and multi-stakeholder governance. This included a focus on contracting issues through which he helped shepherd development of a new global initiative on Open Contracting to promote better outcomes from the estimated $9.5 trillion in public-private contracts globally.
Michael previously worked on industry codes of conduct and as a consultant on corporate responsibility and transparency issues, including a focus on the agribusiness, chemical and defense industries. Michael has advanced degrees from the University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University. He is a frequent author and blogger and misses his time as a radio DJ.
Michael Jarvis joined TAI after almost two decades working on different aspects of the global good governance and development agenda. He has led the development of TAI’s new strategy and approach, and directs engagement across the new priorities for the donor members.
Prior to joining TAI in 2016, Michael was the Global Lead for Extractives Governance within the World Bank Group’s Governance Global Practice. He led the institution’s programming to reinforce knowledge, learning and innovative approaches to strengthening good governance in the critical oil, gas and mining sectors. Overall, Michael worked over ten years with the World Bank in a variety of roles relating to anti corruption, private sector partnerships for development, and multi-stakeholder governance. This included a focus on contracting issues through which he helped shepherd development of a new global initiative on Open Contracting to promote better outcomes from the estimated $9.5 trillion in public-private contracts globally.
Michael previously worked on industry codes of conduct and as a consultant on corporate responsibility and transparency issues, including a focus on the agribusiness, chemical and defense industries. Michael has advanced degrees from the University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University. He is a frequent author and blogger and misses his time as a radio DJ.
Eszter Filippinyi
Deputy DirectorEszter brings to TAI extensive international experience working in the philanthropy and civil society sectors designing, implementing, and assessing complex portfolios of work. More recently she worked to advance transparency and civic participation at the nexus of development, economic activity, environment, climate justice, and human rights, with a special focus on marginalized communities.
Eszter has worked for over two decades with the Open Society Foundations in different roles, managing global grant making and advocacy work in the field of civic participation, supporting organizations and networks globally, regionally, and locally, advancing the rights of the most vulnerable communities such as indigenous and afro communities, women, and informal workers.
Eszter has also a background in education, tourism, and a brief but happy journey in wine business. She is passionate about working in collaboration with visionary people to achieve social change for a World that focuses on the wellbeing of all humans, as well as of the Earth. She also loves literature, arts, and walking in nature.
Eszter brings to TAI extensive international experience working in the philanthropy and civil society sectors designing, implementing, and assessing complex portfolios of work. More recently she worked to advance transparency and civic participation at the nexus of development, economic activity, environment, climate justice, and human rights, with a special focus on marginalized communities.
Eszter has worked for over two decades with the Open Society Foundations in different roles, managing global grant making and advocacy work in the field of civic participation, supporting organizations and networks globally, regionally, and locally, advancing the rights of the most vulnerable communities such as indigenous and afro communities, women, and informal workers.
Eszter has also a background in education, tourism, and a brief but happy journey in wine business. She is passionate about working in collaboration with visionary people to achieve social change for a World that focuses on the wellbeing of all humans, as well as of the Earth. She also loves literature, arts, and walking in nature.
Cristina Ordoñez
Program CoordinatorCristina Ordóñez has over ten years of experience in social research, project management, and fundraising, working with civil society organizations and the public sector in Ecuador. Prior to joining TAI, Cristina worked at FARO, an Ecuadorian non-partisan think tank, as a Research and Evaluation Specialist, and was the first Coordinator of the Latin America and the Caribbean Hub of Innovation for Change, a network of civil society organizations from the Global South working to strengthen civil society and the defense of civic space.
In 2022, Cristina collaborated with TAI as a Community Solutions Program Fellow for four months, where she developed a case study on funding intermediaries and produced a paper on how narratives and the Transparency, Participation & Accountability field is seen by local civil society organizations in Latin America.
She holds a master's degree in local development from Paris 1 Pantheon - Sorbonne University and a bachelor's degree in sociology from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador.
Cristina Ordóñez has over ten years of experience in social research, project management, and fundraising, working with civil society organizations and the public sector in Ecuador. Prior to joining TAI, Cristina worked at FARO, an Ecuadorian non-partisan think tank, as a Research and Evaluation Specialist, and was the first Coordinator of the Latin America and the Caribbean Hub of Innovation for Change, a network of civil society organizations from the Global South working to strengthen civil society and the defense of civic space.
In 2022, Cristina collaborated with TAI as a Community Solutions Program Fellow for four months, where she developed a case study on funding intermediaries and produced a paper on how narratives and the Transparency, Participation & Accountability field is seen by local civil society organizations in Latin America.
She holds a master's degree in local development from Paris 1 Pantheon - Sorbonne University and a bachelor's degree in sociology from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador.
Yery M. García
Communications OfficerYery M García has worked as a researcher and practitioner in communication, development, and social change for more than five years.
Yery holds an M.A. in Media Practice for Development and Social Change from the University of Sussex in the U.K. and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Havana. She has worked as a communications consultant in several international cooperation agencies such as UNICEF, WFP, and Oxfam.
Since 2014, she has been working as a journalist in Cuban and international media outlets covering issues related to transparency, participation, and accountability. She is also a non-formal educator and has been a member of several citizen capacity-building projects using new information and communication technologies.
Yery M García has worked as a researcher and practitioner in communication, development, and social change for more than five years.
Yery holds an M.A. in Media Practice for Development and Social Change from the University of Sussex in the U.K. and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Havana. She has worked as a communications consultant in several international cooperation agencies such as UNICEF, WFP, and Oxfam.
Since 2014, she has been working as a journalist in Cuban and international media outlets covering issues related to transparency, participation, and accountability. She is also a non-formal educator and has been a member of several citizen capacity-building projects using new information and communication technologies.
Leah Eryenyu
Gender Just Economy Learning Community LeadLeah Eryenyu is a feminist Political Economy Analyst with more than 10 years’ experience working on women’s rights and gender justice issues across Africa. Her work is situated in the fields of public finance, labour rights, and reproductive justice. She previously served as the Research Advocacy and Movement Building Manager at Akina Mama wa Afrika and later on as Head of Programmes.
Leah is an Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity and has an Msc in Inequalities and Social Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BA in Political Science from Williams College.
Leah Eryenyu is a feminist Political Economy Analyst with more than 10 years’ experience working on women’s rights and gender justice issues across Africa. Her work is situated in the fields of public finance, labour rights, and reproductive justice. She previously served as the Research Advocacy and Movement Building Manager at Akina Mama wa Afrika and later on as Head of Programmes.
Leah is an Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity and has an Msc in Inequalities and Social Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BA in Political Science from Williams College.
Join TAI
The TAI secretariat is here to help and can explain all that is on offer. If you are new to this field, scoping potential new investments, looking for evidence of what's working, or simply looking for a space to compare notes with fellow funders of all types, please reach out. We offer core and associate membership options.
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TAI Resources
Urgent Needs to Sustain Civic Space Infrastructure
TAI Weekly | Can Philanthropy Reshape Tax Policy?
