📍 Citizen inclusion builds better policies and programs

It is in the interests of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to meaningfully engage citizens and civil society in the processes and policies that shape development financing because it results in better outcomes.

... At a Civil Society Policy Forum event at the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, civil society actors from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Uganda shared that engagements with IFIs often feel like a box-ticking exercise – that CSOs give input but see no feedback or action.

While great strides have been made to open up channels of communication and CSOs reported great receptivity on the part of attending IFIs – the World Bank, IMF, African Development Bank and Asian Development Bank – these are some of their recommendations.
🔲 Close the feedback loop: Tell CSOs what input was used, what wasn't and why.
🔲 Consistent engagement: Build continuous, structured dialogue, not just ad-hoc meetings.
🔲 Protect Civic Space: IFIs should use the leverage they hold to make country-level policy recommendations that enable CSO work.

▶️ For the"how" of these recommendations – including from Accountability Lab Pakistan's Fayyaz Yaseen – watch the full session here: https://bit.ly/48yOWE6

🏏⚽️ Sports as a Tool for Preventing Violent Extremism in Pakistan

In Pakistan, where more than 62% of the population is under 30, sport is emerging as a powerful tool for resilience, belonging, and inclusion.

From the football fields of Lyari to the cricket pitches of ...Gilgit-Baltistan, young people are using play to bridge divides and rewrite narratives of conflict. Through teamwork, leadership, and empathy, they’re countering extremist ideologies and building trust where it’s needed most.

In a new article, Syed Raza Ali Shah, Programs Manager at Accountability Lab Pakistan, explores how initiatives like the Gilgit-Baltistan Girls Football League, DOSTI Project, and Lyari Safe Learning Environments are transforming local playgrounds into spaces of peace and civic agency.

As Syed notes, sports alone may not end violent extremism, but when linked with education, inclusion, and community leadership, they open doors to deeper social change.

Read the full article: 🔗 https://bit.ly/4q8tHPy

#AccountabilityLabPakistan #SportsForPeace #PreventingViolentExtremism #YouthLeadership #CivicAgency #Peacebuilding #Inclusion

Sports as a Tool for Preventing Violent Extremism in Pakistan - Accountability Lab Pakistan

In Pakistan, where more than 62% of the population is under 30, violent extremism often feeds on exclusion, unemployment and identity crises. Yet on...

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🎶 How does a song become a manifesto for hope?

Music4Change (Música X Cambio) brings together music, human rights, and civic participation to visualize and humanize the experiences of migrant people.

Co-created by singer-songwriter @Leiden and Accountability Lab Mexico, this ...new pilot uses Leiden’s 'Participatory Testimonial Song' methodology alongside the Lab’s civic-agency approach to transform real stories into collective songs. These pieces will be recorded and compiled into an album, amplifying the voices and lived experiences of people on the move.

The first pilot began in September 2025 at Casa del Migrante Arcángel Rafael in Mexico City, with Leiden and Ireri Almonte leading the creative sessions, and Accountability Lab Mexico facilitating workshops on storytelling, power, and hope-based counter-narratives.

Beyond the music, the process includes developing a 'Manifesto of Hope' – a collective document capturing learnings, demands, and visions for a more inclusive future.

Stay tuned for more updates as the pilot unfolds – we can’t wait to share what comes next!

#MúsicaXCambio #Music4Change #MigrarEsUnDerecho #ManifiestoDeLaEsperanza #Accountability #AccountabilityLabMexico #CivicAgency #SocialChange