WHAT'S NEW?
Claudia Chwalisz of DemocracyNext stresses the importance of revisiting core elements like agency, trust, and connection, and integrating our relationship with the natural world into rethinking governance.
Gavin Hayman details how Ukraine’s DREAM (Digital Restoration Ecosystem for Accountable Management) is about delivering smart management and full transparency of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction effort.
Mark Pyman and Paul Heywood have a new book analyzing Sector Based Action Against Corruption available for free download.
Spencer Woodman asks why the US tax agency is going soft on billionaires, easing penalties on the wealthiest individuals and corporate tax evaders.
The Kettering Foundation's Democracy Around the Globe team hosted a webinar on 'Recognizing and Countering Global Authoritarian Trends to deepen understanding of the democratic landscape and illuminate authoritarian threats.
Cecilia Galvan and Gaston Wright argue that the case of Argentina's 2023 elections points to the power of digital landscapes in shaping democratic outcomes.
In May, the UNDP Gender Seal Team and Tax for SDGs Initiative led capacity building to educate public officers from four tax administrations in both Nigeria and Ghana on integrating gender equality into taxation policies and services.
Missed the recent Convening of On Think Tanks including some fascinating governance-related insights? Read the recap and join the Think Tank sector survey.
The OECD Development Assistance Committee presents proposals for increasing financing for gender equality initiatives, including support for local women's rights organizations, feminist movements, women's funds, and governmental partners.
ESSENTIAL WATCHING!
Our series on democratic innovations hosted with People Powered and Open Government Partnership is in full gear. Watch the first session on participatory approaches within digital governance here, and the second webinar on Inclusive Democracy, here. There are two more Webinars - today’s on Climate Democracy and next July 2 on Mainstreaming Participation. Register now to save your spot.
FROM OUR MEMBERS
OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS: Speaks out on "The Troubling March of 'Foreign Agents' Laws," critically examining Georgia's law on transparency of foreign influence, the latest in a disturbing trend of legislation by authoritarian governments aimed at stifling independent civil society globally.
FORD FOUNDATION: Announces a Request for Light-Touch Proposals focused on cross-field learning for a just energy transition, with a particular emphasis on Africa.
MACARTHUR FOUNDATION: Invites you to a dinner event to learn how their nine-year, multi-faceted, systems-approach to tackling corruption is progressing. Hear from grantee partners as they share learnings and evidence from the Gender, Equity, and Social Inclusion approach to reducing corruption and advancing accountability through the foundation’s On Nigeria Program.
TAI: Want to understand the flow of official development assistance and philanthropic funds to the information ecosystem? See the full recording of last week’s conversation hosted with the OECD and Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA). Discussion centered on the funding mappings by CIMA, TAI and OECD. Don’t have time to watch the webinar? Read the explanatory blog and this related commentary published by Nishant Lalwani and James Deane from the International Fund for Public Interest Media.
TOOLS AND TRENDS FOR FUNDERS
WINGS advocates for a pivotal shift in philanthropic strategy across Latin America, urging philanthropic organizations to move away from isolated initiatives and towards partnerships that address the scale, complexity, and urgency of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Asia Foundation reflects on its commitment to 'thinking and working politically,' an approach that advocates for adapting to the complex network of interests within policy environments and prioritizing indigenous leadership over external solutions.
Navigating the challenge of resource allocation and support for community-based organizations in the Global South can be complex (a hot topic at TAI’s recent Learning Days). Bridgespan makes the cases that philanthropic collaboratives can help.
Philea Forum 2024 facilitated discussions on practical strategies and innovative approaches to bolster philanthropy's pivotal role in fostering trust within democratic systems, institutions, and across generations.
ESSENTIAL WATCHING!
Don't miss the keynote address by Sri Mulyani Indrawatii, Indonesian Minister of Finance, during the launch of the Open Budget Survey 2023. “[...] Without credibility, transparency, and accountability, there is no trust in the budget and the Ministry of Finance,” says the Minister.
FOCUSED TOPIC OF THE WEEK
Corporate Accountability - A Landmark Ruling But Worries Elsewhere
After 17 years of litigation, victims of paramilitary violence in Colombia secured a landmark victory in a U.S. court. Earth Rights International's long-standing assertion that Chiquita knowingly funded the AUC, a designated terrorist group, for-profit despite its severe human rights abuses has been validated by the jury's decision. This historic verdict ensures compensation for some victims and their families directly affected by Chiquita's actions. More cases are pending against the company.
A long-term investigation in Mozambique reveals that the timber trade, driven by significant exports to China, not only violates a log export ban but funds violent insurgents in Cabo Delgado province. The Environmental Investigation Agency reports that systemic corruption in Mozambique's timber sector enables the laundering of conflict timber, facilitated by major global shipping lines transporting the timber to China.
More positive news in the fishing sector as the governments of Ecuador and Chile made commitments to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI).. This development is crucial for enhancing transparency and public involvement in fisheries management across the Latin America region, while also supporting the effective implementation of the Escazu Agreement.
Looking big picture, Empower's recent report on corporate capture of the state highlights critical challenges and gaps, particularly in the Global South. The authors underscore the need to scale up and replicate innovative strategies and opportunities to counteract the wide-ranging and detrimental effects of corporate capture.
JOBS
Consultancy Opportunity: Opening Extractives Programme in the Philippines - Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI)
Associate, Just & Inclusive Society - Democracy Fund
Capacity building for members in Latin America and the Caribbean - WINGS
Sr. Director, Philanthropic Partnerships - Thousand Currents
Program Manager - Sequoia Climate Foundation
Executive Director - Basel Institute of Governance
Finance Officer MENA - The Hivos Digital Defenders Partnership
Policy & Advocacy Manager - Europe - Access Now
Senior EU Advocacy and Policy Adviser - Norwegian Refugee Council
Policy Analyst on International Relations - Foundation for European Progressive Studies
CALLS
Call for Papers: Financing for Feminist Futures - The Hivos Digital Defenders Partnership
The Digital Freedom Fund - open call for grant applications for 2024
The Changemaker Authors Cohort supports full-time movement activists and social justice practitioners to complete books that create deep, durable narrative change that restructures the way people feel, think, and respond to the world. Submission deadline: August 15, 2024
MacArthur announced the launch of a new round of its 100&Change competition deadline of August 15, 2024.
Grants available to investigate fossil fuel industry activities - Cross-border teams of at least two journalists and/or news outlets in Europe.
CALENDAR
Learning Webinars on Climate Democracy and Mainstreaming Participation, 18 June and 12 July, 2024
Addis Tax Initiative General Assembly, 18-20 June 2004
International Anti-Corruption Conference, Vilnius, Lithuania, 18-21 June 2024
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative will release its annual Rights Tracker update, 20 June 2024
An evening of dialogue: lessons learned from beneficial ownership advocates, 20 June 2024
Hispanics in Philanthropy Conference, 20-21 June 2024
"Climate Litigation and Access Rights: Strengthening Environmental Justice in the Caribbean"- June 25th to 28th, exclusively for participants from the English-speaking Caribbean in Jamaica
Donor Transformation Challenge - CIVICUS, 19, 26 June and 3 July 2024. RSVP by June 3rd.
Advancing the Voluntary Carbon Markets through Green Accountability: Leveraging Citizens and Civil Society for Trust and Integrity, June 27, 2-3 BST
International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE) Annual Conference, 3-5 July 2024
The 2024 Grantmakers Summit: Strategic Philanthropy in a Dynamic Era, 8-9 July, Nairobi
International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), 18-21 July 2024
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