TAI Weekly |Grantmakers are not prioritizing global democracy

Image Credit: I am Als

Too many governments worldwide have become adept at adopting nefarious tactics, strategies, and technologies governments officials use to silence human rights activists and civil society groups. Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri details and denounces the “Security Playbook” used in Nigeria, while Devon Kearney explains El Salvador’s “foreign agent law” is a measure that requires nonprofit groups that engage in political activity to register with the government if they receive money from overseas (Russia’s law was an inspiration.)

Oil´s moral reckoning, climate encouraging a new approach in MENA region, and the right to biodiversity info in Latin America

As major oil companies finally look to sell up their stakes in Russian joint ventures, Alex Gillies argues much more could be done to stop the industry propping up kleptocrats. 

Her article might not be easy reading in an oil dependent MENA region facing daunting challenges resulting from poor governance, inequality, conflict, water shortages, and ecological degradation. Climate change in the Middle East and North Africa will amplify preexisting problems while also creating new disruptions. However, government policies so far have failed both to protect those citizens most vulnerable to climate shocks and to build broad-based resilience.

More hopefully in Latin America, the Escazú Agreement offers a framework for management of biodiversity information in megadiverse countries. Available in Spanish, read the dialogue between different government and civil society actors around the challenges in terms of generating, managing and disseminating information on biodiversity in the region.

Accountability theatre – the challenges of online governance

TAI has been digging into transparency of online content moderation late and we loved this geeky but fascinating research on how to make platforms accountable for their decisions. “The scale and speed of online speech means content moderation cannot be understood as simply the aggregation of many (many!) individual adjudications, what this approach produces is accountability theatre rather than actual accountability.” Better to have more a proactive and continuous form of governance than focus on individual error correction.

Perhaps regulation will require it. 43 organisations have called on European leaders to ensure full transparency of debates over the future ruling of our digital environment, including services and marketplaces online.

Tax reforms from the south and several tools to inform tax arrangements

How will last year’s international tax agreements affect real people? This new factsheet from Global Financial Integrity and ACODE includes maps breaking down country participation, gives an overview of the pros and cons of the deal, and recommends actions for African civil society to engage. Pair with this study from the Center for Economic and Social Rights exploring the digital tax deal from a human rights lens. A truly transformative reform should consider the implications of those most affected by the current system.

Get up to speed on your anticorruption readings – norms and more 

Dig in the latest brief from the Corruption, Justice and Legitimacy Program: Social norms in practice. This short guide offers an example of a corrupt behaviour driven by a social norm. It identifies the components of the norm and explains how the norm differs from other social dynamics.

A wealth of great content from USAID’s first-ever Anti-Corruption Evidence and Learning Week from January. Find links to resources and recordings here.

Essential Listening!

Social movement or professional NGO? Can it be both? Don’t miss the podcast Strength & Solidarity, hosted by Akwe Amosu. In this Episode, Cape Town activist Axolile Notywala describes the challenges associated with an organizational approach used by a number of campaigning groups in South Africa.

For non-profits in transition

Here are 9 questions to help you develop an equity mindset. Plus, the Building Movement Project, has released two reports, Making (Or Taking) Space: Initial Themes on Nonprofit Transitions from White to BIPOC Leaders and Trading Glass Ceilings for Glass Cliffs: A Race to Lead Report on Nonprofit Executives of Color. Both reports highlight the unique burdens leaders of color face taking over from white precedessors, and steps funders and others can take to support them.