March 24, 2026
Dear readers,
In the week after the death of Jurgen Habermas, who championed the public sphere, it is appropriate to feature several stories related to civic participation and the state of democracy, including the latest V-Dem ratings. And a timely reminder of the importance of investing in “accountability and civic systems that help governments deliver” at last week’s Global Philanthropy Forum.
Plus, all the latest jobs and fellowship opportunities, events, funder developments and a fascinating new report on strengthening fiscal ecosystems - see Essential Reading below.
Happy reading!
TAI team
What's New
V-Dem Institute’s Democracy Report 2026 provides an update on the global state of democracy. The research finds no single solution to reversing autocratization, but points to three key factors: strong institutional safeguards, active civic engagement, and timely action, as most democratic setbacks occur within the first electoral cycle.
The Transnational Institute’s recent paper calls for a collective Global South front for justice, reflecting on failures of multilateral institutions and proposing a framework for cross-regional coordination among progressive movements, trade unions, scholars, and civil society.
Daniel Stid challenges philanthropy to rethink its democratic investments. Arguing that the sector has over-invested in moralistic advocacy, Stid makes the case for directing more funding toward community organisers and problem-solvers in politics, leaders who can build democratic capacity rather than pursue narrow policy agendas.
Watch the Addis Tax Initiative webinar examining how tax systems can be made fairer and more gender-responsive. Drawing on country reports from Benin and Zambia, the event brought together around 60 participants to explore gender bias in national tax systems, and to push for a more holistic understanding of the issue, as reflected in ATI's Seville Declaration commitments.
New Gallup data sheds light on what philanthropy can do to support democracy. The findings suggest that democratic confidence grows when participation feels real and accessible, pointing to a practical opportunity for funders to strengthen civic infrastructure between elections, from expanding access to officials to supporting organisations that help people translate concerns into action.
Can procurement contracts govern AI? Writing for Lawfare, Jessica Tillipman reflects on the public disagreements between Anthropic and the U.S. government over military AI uses, warning that contracts alone lack the democratic accountability, transparency, and durability needed to govern high-stakes technologies like AI-enabled surveillance and autonomous weapons.
Peru's political crisis deepens with the removal of President José Jerí, the country's eighth ruler in a decade. CONNECTAS asks the hard question: is this chronic instability the product of political dysfunction, or a symptom of deeper institutional design failures? Read the analysis.
Publish What You Fund has released a review of transparency practices among 20 of the largest operational UN agencies, assessing how consistently and effectively they publish financial and programme information through the IATI Standard, timely reading amid ongoing discussions on UN reform.
“Designing Democratic Engagement for the AI Era”, a new curriculum, has incorporated feedback from over 50 practitioners across 24 countries, that reflect the need for clearer guidance on readiness, trust, inclusion, privacy, and AI risks in public participation. Human review ensured accuracy in synthesising feedback.
FACT Coalition’s analysis of new corporate tax disclosures shows that U.S. anti-abuse rules limit, but do not fully prevent, profit shifting. In 2025, 40 large US multinationals reduced their tax bills by over $11 billion via tax havens, while less than $3 billion was clawed back. These are conservative estimates likely to rise as more companies publish statements.
As threats to civil society grow increasingly severe and existential, the European Democracy Hub has published a piece that explores new approaches to protecting civic space worldwide. It examines fresh strategies and ideas for defending the rights and freedoms that allow civil society to thrive.
Civil society is pioneering new tools to counter corrosive capital. Case studies from Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea show how local civil society actors are developing innovative responses to the challenge of opaque, politically motivated foreign investment.
When do mass protests topple autocrats? Tom Carothers and McKenzie Carrier of the Carnegie Endowment examine the conditions under which popular mobilisation succeeds in bringing down authoritarian regimes.
The South Centre has submitted inputs to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation, foregrounding the needs and priorities of Global South governments in the negotiations.
Gates Foundation reflects on why investing in women is essential for global prosperity. Closing gender gaps in health, entrepreneurship, and economic participation could add trillions to the global economy, yet nearly every woman in the world faces barriers limiting her potential.
ESSENTIAL READING:
A new TAI synthesis paper examines how fiscal systems can deliver not just transparency but fairer outcomes and real accountability. Drawing on case studies from Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa, Warren Krafchik and Paolo de Renzio explore a "fiscal ecosystem" approach, and offer practical lessons for reformers, from building politically credible coalitions to focusing on real accountability outcomes rather than information alone.
From Our Members
OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS: President Binaifer Nowrojee warns of fraying democratic practice worldwide, calling for renewed commitment to defending human rights and keeping societies open. Watch the interview here.
FORD FOUNDATION: Appoints new president. Heather Gerken becomes the organization’s eleventh leader. The Chronicle of Philanthropy is hosting a conversation with her on April 1st, and offers an opportunity to hear her vision for one of the sector’s most influential institutions.
TOOLS AND TRENDS FOR FUNDERS
Philea has produced a mapping of journalism and media funding in Europe on behalf of the Journalism Funders Forum. The tool provides a systematic overview of the numerous funding efforts currently active across the continent. It is a valuable resource for any funder working in this space.
A new Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) report on foundation governance finds that leading a foundation has become increasingly challenging in the current context. The snapshot examines what foundation CEOs say they need from their boards to remain effective, making it relevant reading for any organisation navigating risk and accountability in a shifting landscape.
Jehan Velji of the Hewlett Foundation writes for CEP on why collaborative funds offer reasons for hope right now. The author offers an encouraging perspective on the value of shared risk, pooled resources, and collective decision-making as individual funders face growing constraints.
One year after dramatic aid cuts, a new white paper by Florencia Guerzovich of Accountability Lab examines how the Democracy, Rights, and Governance community is coping. It also outlines key priorities for action to strengthen long-term resilience with donor support.
ESSENTIAL READING:
The OSF Ideas Letter features Christine Mungai's essay calling for a fundamental rethink of democracy's core assumptions. Mungai argues that there are countless paths to achieving, or losing, democracy, and that the field needs far less hubris and much more modesty when it comes to the outcomes of "democratization." Read the essay.
Focused Topic of the Week
The Hidden Architecture of Influence: Finance, Information, and the Fight for Accountability
A quiet but consequential battle is unfolding across financial systems, information ecosystems, and political landscapes in which transparency and accountability are potentially decisive weapons. Triodos Bank's call for a fundamental overhaul of the financial system in the UK captures this moment well: the proposal for a public digital currency and redirected capital flows reflects a growing recognition that finance, left ungoverned, drifts away from human dignity and ecological balance toward extraction and short-term gain. The question of who guides capital, and toward what ends, is no longer merely technical, it is deeply political.
That political dimension becomes starker when examining how influence operates. The Media Capture Watch interactive map, which charts funding relationships between Big Tech, AI companies, and journalism organisations worldwide, makes pathways of influence more visible amid further consolidation of media ownership.
An investigative report Fuelling Russia's Oil and Gas Influence in Europe exposes how the Kremlin continues to shape European energy policy through lobbying, sanctions circumvention, and a network of ostensibly independent experts — case studies from Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, Italy, and Cyprus revealing just how durable this leverage has proven even after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Turning to Slovenia, investigations of Black Cube's role in elections suggests private intelligence firms, operating in the shadows, can destabilise democratic processes through leaked tapes and manufactured scandal. These stories share a common thread: the systematic weaponization of opacity.
How to respond? We see some signs of encouragement. Civil society organisations in Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea are pioneering new tools to counter corrosive capital, demonstrating that the Global South need not wait for multilateral consensus to act. Political leadership can help. While the UK Foreign Secretary provided further details of cuts last week there was at least commitment on tax expertise and combatting illicit financial flows with a major summit coming up in June. And updated guidance on modern slavery reporting in supply chains continues to push corporate accountability further down the chain of production.
ESSENTIAL LISTENING
"It Takes a City" is a new podcast exploring participatory tools, from citizen budgeting to legislative theater, through conversations with practitioners who've used them in communities with limited resources. Each episode unpacks real tactics, strategic dilemmas, and honest failures, offering practical guidance for local government officials, activists, and policy students alike.
JOBS
Multiple openings - Hewlett Foundation
Multiple openings - MacArthur Foundation
Multiple Openings - Hilton Foundation
Multiple Openings - Gates Foundation
Multiple Openings - Transparency International
Multiple Openings - Social Action, Development Cooperation, Culture, Disability, and Health Sectors in Spain
Multiple Openings - National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
Multiple Openings - UNCAC Coalition
Director of Global Affairs - Sequoia Climate Foundation
Director, Strategic Communications Network – Global Fund for a New Economy (GFNE).
Programme Manager, Democracy Collaborations - Philea. Deadline: March 28, 2026.
Chief of Staff - Luminate. Deadline: April 03, 2026.
CALLS
EDGE Funders' Global Engagement Lab is a 9-month program for progressive funders seeking systemic change and personal growth, with cohort learning and in-person retreats. Applications open March 2026; costs USD 4,000–7,000, with discounts for EDGE members.
The European Endowment for Democracy provides rolling funding for local democracy organizations in the Eastern Partnership, Middle East and North Africa, and Western Balkans & Turkey.
Support for independent media in Kenya – Media Development Investment Fund. Capacity building programme. Rolling deadline.
EDGE Funders – Global Engagement Lab (GEL 6): A nine-month learning journey for progressive funders and grantmakers seeking to move from values alignment to organised, strategic action.
EU Grants and Fundraising Trainings, Brussels Academy. Intensive sessions designed to equip participants with a solid understanding of EU funding mechanisms and practical, hands-on experience in writing competitive project proposals. March 26-27, 2026.
La Sobremesa announces its Curso de Sostenibilidad Financiera for civil society organisations in Latin America, a practical space to design a financial sustainability plan step by step. (In Spanish.) Deadline: 27 March 2026.
WINGS is seeking a partner to design and deliver a scalable e-learning programme for policymakers and government stakeholders on effective government–philanthropy partnerships. Deadline: March 28, 2026.
Two ScaleDem open calls are now live through 31 March 2026, offering eligible organizations across Europe and beyond funding, mentorship and peer learning to scale democratic innovations. The Piloting Programme supports bold new ideas with up to €100,000, and the Twinning Programme offers up to €65,500 for mentor–mentee communities adapting proven approaches.
LEAP Africa – NYFF Catalyst Grant 2026: Grants of up to $50,000 USD for registered organisations in Nigeria supporting bold, youth-led ideas that strengthen Nigeria's youth ecosystem. Deadline: 31 March 2026.
The Open Government Partnership Transparency Fellowship is a fully-funded, five-day immersive experience for mid- to senior-level professionals in government, civil society or media from Georgia, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine. It will take place 13-17 July 2026 in Lithuania and Latvia. Deadline: 31 March 2026.
The National Endowment for Democracy offers grants to advance democratic goals and strengthen democratic institutions. Deadline: June 6, 2026.
Thousand Currents will host its first Academy in the Global South this August in Brazil, focused on internationalism and global solidarity, including immersive engagement with social movements shaping transformative change. August 2-7, 2026 | São Paulo, Brazil.
CALENDAR
Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters (32nd session, UN HQ NYC). March 23-26.
2026 OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum (GACIF). March 23-27, 2026 | Paris, France.
Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy - Virtual book launch with Vu Le from Nonprofit AF, celebrating the vital nonprofit sector. February 25, 2026 | 10:00 AM PST / 1:00 PM EST / 6:00 PM GMT.
Special Meeting of ECOSOC on International Cooperation in Tax Matters (UN HQ NYC). March 27.
Virtual Women's Momentum Assembly for a Just Fossil Fuel Phaseout. Interpretation available in Spanish, Portuguese, French and English. Tuesday, 31 March, 1:00-5:00 PM EDT.
The role of ODA in strengthening the capacity of Accountability Stakeholders for Domestic Revenue Mobilisation. April 8, 2026.
Strengthening mining taxation for sustainable development: Peer learning across ATI partner countries. April 15, 2026.
8th meeting of the Community of Practice on Tax Expenditures. April 16, 2026.
Igniting Hope: The Inaugural Ottawa Civic Space Summit. Registration closes April 10, 2026. Event from April 21-23, 2026.
Ottawa Civic Space Summit. Registration closes April 10, 2026. April 21–23.
First International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, coordinating governments to institutionalise global cooperation for a managed, equitable phaseout. 28-29 April.
Othering & Belonging Conference, Louisville, Kentucky, March 31-April 1, 2026.
UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2026, Lusaka, Zambia. May 4-5.
RightsCon 2026, Lusaka, Zambia. May 5-8.
Rabat, Morocco: On Think Tanks Conference, focusing on "Think Tanks and Trust." 19–21 May 2026.
10th Global Solutions Summit 2026, Berlin. June 1-2, 2026.
Oslo Freedom Forum, Oslo, Norway. June 1-3, 2026.
WINGSForum 2026 in Montreal under the theme "ACT – Activate, Collaborate, Transcend." Save the date, more details to follow in early 2026. September 28-30, 2026.
International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. December 1-4, 2026.
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