The Accountability Lab Fellowship is the leading, multi-disciplinary program for students interested in transforming development outcomes through a focus on accountability, transparency, and open governance.
Imagine using your design skills to help technologists create their latest tool for civic participation in Nepal. Or drawing on your creativity to work with rappers on a popular anti-corruption song in Liberia. Or adapting your communications experience with the media to broadcast a TV show about honest government officials in Mali.
Supporting accountability around the world requires all sorts of skills. Whoever you are, if you’ve got a taste for adventure, a desire to build positive social change, and you’re ready to roll-up your sleeves, we have an opportunity for you. We are looking for the very best students – budding storytellers, research experts, future non-profit managers and MBA stars – for the foremost fellowship in this field.
The Accountability Lab Fellowship is a 10-week, immersive learning experience in Nepal, Pakistan, Liberia, or Mali. The fellowship provides structured training and knowledge-building, hands-on experience relevant to your background and skills with some of the best social change-makers in these countries, as well as continual feedback to track progress and impact. As a fellow, you will be a full-fledged member of the Accountability Lab team, with the opportunity to design, shape, and implement programs and systems.
Currently, we have local teams in Kathmandu, Islamabad, Monrovia, and Bamako. All of these teams operate independently while working to accomplish the Lab’s vision of a more accountable and just world. Roles vary between country teams depending on that organization’s specific needs at that time. Please note that only US-based applicants will be considered for the positions in Washington DC.
Current Projects
| Country | Opportunity | Current Projects | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberia | MEL Visual Storytelling Non-Profit Management | Incubator Integrity Idol Citizen Helpdesks (mining) Film and Peacebuilding Community Justice Teams Rap2Rep (music) | |
| Mali | MEL Visual Storytelling Non-Profit Management | Incubator Integrity Idol Citizen Helpdesks | French |
| Nepal | MEL Visual Storytelling Non-Profit Management | Incubator Integrity Idol Citizen Helpdesks (Migration) | |
| Nigeria | MEL Visual Storytelling Non-Profit Management | Integrity Idol Rap2Rep (Music) | |
| Pakistan | MEL Visual Storytelling Non-Profit Management | Incubator Integrity Idol | Right to work in Pakistan |
| South Africa | Visual Storytelling | Integrity Idol | Position only available until May |
| Washington DC | Non-Profit Management | Project management Proposal writing Admin Support | Graduate student |
Fellowship Focus Areas – please click on the links to see a draft TOR for the positions.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Application & Structure
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Fellows will be matched to a focus area and location based on their interest and background/skills. The fellowship will begin with an immersive three-day orientation, network-building, and knowledge-sharing bootcamp at the OpenGov Hub in Washington DC. Fellows will then fly out to one of our local offices for an 8 – 12 week period, before returning to Washington, DC for a 2-day learning and feedback retreat. We strongly encourage fellows to seek funding from their universities as well as independent scholarships. If you are unable to secure outside funding, the Lab will provide a stipend to cover core costs.
Hear about past fellows’ experiences