TAI Weekly

TAI Weekly | The Axis of Upheaval: What Democracy Is Up Against

By TAI (Role at TAI)
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TAI Weekly

Dear readers,

Lots to cover this week from trust in critical mineral development to misinformation in the AI age to debt transparency to defending against an emerging autocratic coalition. Plus, the latest jobs.

But we start with a call on philanthropy to invest more in fiscal issues - fairer tax systems, sustainable debt and accountable spending. Check out our new Fiscal Space site that makes the case for funders to step up and invest more in civil society engagement on these issues around the world. It’s all the more important given recent aid cuts.  

We will keep the site updated over the coming months with new opinion and research. Check it out and tell us what you think!

TAI team

WHAT'S NEW?

Sasha Lezhnev and John Prendergast document the role of illicit gold trade as a fuel for war in eastern DRC, and how resource exploitation continues to drive conflict in the region.

Kathrin Frauscher at the Open Contracting Partnership offers her views on how the World Bank can improve both its own and its clients' procurement practices to deliver better outcomes. 

In Latin America, the NINA platform now aids cross-border data investigations to enhance regional cooperation in investigative journalism.

Check out the comprehensive guide on misinformation in the age of AI  by Proyecto Desconfío and Fundación Gabo. This Spanish-language resource compiles the main conclusions of the 2024 Summit on Disinformation and serves as a valuable tool for those who combat misinformation in Latin America.

The OECD’s new policy brief on "Corruption as a Development Obstacle" is part of its series on Managing the Risk of Corruption. It offers practical guidance for development practitioners.

Tom Carothers and Judy Lee examine the global surge in political protests, identifying governmental overreach and neglect as key factors that mobilize citizens across numerous countries.

The Open Science Justice Lab at the University of Amsterdam has launched an innovative project to advance research and open-access knowledge in support of a global constitution. Have ideas? They invite public submissions.

Communities across the globe are using technology to break the oil and gas monopoly on information. Mitchelle de Leon details how democratizing data helps hold polluters accountable and advances environmental justice through citizen-led monitoring initiatives.

As more countries look to create sovereign wealth funds, their governance beceomes all the more important. Jodi Vittori and Steven Feldstein highlight corruption risks of the prospective US fund, while the Indonesian government makes grand transparency claims for its new fund.

An alliance of small news nonprofits led by Jason Pramas of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism is challenging the unequal funding of major media outlets. Their mission is to create a more equitable funding system for independent, nonprofit journalism to ensure diverse and sustainable news coverage.

Revelations of higher than expected external debt in Senegal highlight the ongoing debt transparency challenge. Toby McIntosh notes that the IMF is demanding serious reforms, but would that look like to avoid more hidden debt?

Growth can often require a long and resource-intensive journey, but the social sector's interconnectedness means that an aligned partner has probably already built what you need (or vice versa). This piece from George Tsiatis for Stanford Social Innovation Review presents valuable insights for organizations that consider strategic consolidation.

ESSENTIAL READING

New research looks at the role of trust in critical minerals governance with emphasis on company-community relationship and how governments contribute to this. Authors show that trust can be elusive but can be predicted by environment, social and governance principles. Investing in building trust can address justice in transitions and reduce supply chain disruptions.

FROM OUR MEMBERS

HUMANITY UNITED: Their latest newsletter features reports on Gazan healthcare workers affected by the conflict, the Global Migrant Workers Network's advocacy for labor rights, and Equidem's exposure of systemic abuse of East African care workers in Gulf countries. Sign up for their monthly issues.

OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS: Founded back in 1979, learn more about its history of commitment to justice, equity, and protecting individual freedoms, to advance the dignity and well-being of marginalized communities globally.

PACKARD FOUNDATION: Is hiring a Vice President for Families & Communities, overseeing a $65M grantmaking budget and leading initiatives to strengthen communities and empower families.

TAI SECRETARIAT: In a recent op-ed for Billionaire, TAI’s Executive Director, Michael Jarvis, urges the wealthiest philanthropists to invest in civil society-led systems change. He emphasizes that supporting sustainable development is a long-term investment, not charity, and points to TAI and other funder networks as guides for new grantmaking.

TOOLS AND TRENDS FOR FUNDERS

Ariadne's 2025 Forecast for European Social Change and Human Rights Funders is now available. The report provides insights into challenges and opportunities this year might bring for grantees; how funder practices could change; which political events will likely affect funders' work; and reasons for hope.

Rajiv Joshi asks funders to invest more in spaces for connection, idea creation, and strategy development; to act as knowledge brokers; and to invest in social movements. He emphasizes philanthropy's critical role in support of civil society.

Jennifer and David Risher offer up to $2.25 million in match grants for donors who commit to spend half of the money in their donor advised fund (DAF) by the end of September. 

David Bowermaster talks to Atti Worku and Degan Ali about what makes Africa's funding movement different from other regions. They urge placing the focus on funds for organizations close to the communities they aim to help.

ESSENTIAL READING

Sustainability in funding requires more than programmatic success—it demands intentional exits and community-led transitions. Relativ Impact and Ethical Good explain why the 'Theory of Exit' should be part of every funder's impact strategy, especially in times of uncertainty and funding cuts.

FOCUSED TOPIC OF THE WEEK:

Taking on the “Axis of Upheaval”

Democratic governance champions face challenges from coordinated authoritarian actors, institutional gaps in international protection, internal erosion of democratic norms, and declining support resources. 

Christopher S. Chivvis warns of autocratic alliance-building, drawing attention to "The Fragile Axis of Upheaval." He highlights the need for proactive engagement by democratic nations rather than complacency in the face of authoritarian coordination.

Alarmingly, despite democracy being enshrined as a core principle of the United Nations, the international body lacks dedicated mechanisms to monitor and protect democratic governance. As Yuyun Wahyuningrum of Democracy Without Borders observes, while specific human rights like freedom of expression have dedicated UN Special Rapporteurs, democracy itself remains without such advocacy and protection. Yuyan argues that this institutional gap represents a critical failure in the international system's ability to defend democratic principles worldwide.

The threat extends to established democracies as well. Looking at spiraling democratic erosion in the United States, Laura Gamboa draws insights from global resistance movements against authoritarianism, emphasizing the crucial importance of defending democratic institutions and rule of law as foundational safeguards for maintaining broader freedoms. Not that such defense is costless. Anthoula Malkopoulou explains how responses can entail moral costs and notes that an “ethical compass is needed to ensure that actions in defence of democracy do not cause more harm than they seek to prevent.” 

Financial influence presents another significant vulnerability. Tom Keatinge and Eliza Lockhart identify foreign money and political influence operations as democracy's weakest link. Their analysis reveals how external financial interference can systematically undermine democratic institutions and processes from within.

Compounding these challenges, a survey by the Democracy Fund indicates a troubling decline in philanthropic support for democracy initiatives. Nearly 90 percent of the 151 foundations, donors, advisers, and funding intermediaries surveyed expressed serious concern about diminishing donor funding, reflecting both reduced resources and waning optimism about philanthropy's role in strengthening democratic systems.

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