The International Accountability Project (IAP), the Global Advocacy Team Advisory Group and partners welcome 7 new members from 7 countries who will champion community-led development planning in their communities and around the world.

* This announcement is also available in Filipino, French, Indonesian, Russian and Spanish. For other languages, use the Google Language in the header of this page. 

This, the second iteration of the Global Advocacy Team, is a result of a collective commitment to strengthen community-led development planning around the world. As a collectively designed initiative, we are proud to gather 7 incredible community organizers and activists from 7 countries – Armenia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, and Zimbabwe. 

Together, our work will lead to:

• strengthened community-led development plans for each Global Advocacy Team member; 

• local and international advocacy to encourage community-led development as a preferred model; 

• a collectively written report and global recommendations based on community-led research; and 

• accessible training materials on community-led development planning, which will be distributed globally in multiple languages.

The Global Advocacy Team is a co-created and collectively-led initiative. To design the initiative, from March through July 2021, IAP hosted 5 regional and 2 international Expert Meetings with 46 organizations in 25 countries. The expert participants contributed their insights to confirm the goals, objectives and activities and also elected 6 people among them, the Global Advocacy Team Advisory Group, to advise the Global Advocacy Team initiative over the next 2 years.  You can read more about this process and meet the Global Advocacy Team Advisory Group in the Expert Meetings Report.

With the co-created design, then, the quest for individuals and collectives who would take part in this global initiative was exciting and challenging.  From the beginning accessibility was prioritized. A call for applications was distributed in October 2021 across IAP’s international network of partners. To find the best candidates, applications could be submitted in any language through several accessible methods. The selection process to find 7 members was incredibly competitive after receiving a total of 112 applications from 46 countries. 

The selection committee – led by Global Advocacy Team Advisory Group and including IAP staff – reviewed all the applications by regions and languages until a shortlist of 30 candidates was named. These candidates were invited to an interview to deep dive into their community work and explore how this initiative would benefit their community and organization. Likewise, the conversations also provided a space to reflect on how their individual work could turn into a collective effort, among the eventual 7 members. 

The Global Advocacy Team Advisory Group – again elected by participants of the Expert Group meetings and composed of 6 seasoned community organizers and activists – will provide strategic advice, support, and guidance to the Global Advocacy Team members. 

I would say the GAT program spearheaded by IAP is a great program to ensure that development is people-focused unlike parachuting development to the people which has proved to harm people and environment for such kind of development [that is] profit-focused rather than people.” – Maurice Odhiambo, Kenya, GAT Advisory Group member

Through July 2022, the new 7 members of the Global Advocacy Team are part of 9 training and co-learning sessions to design their community-led research process and eventually create or strengthen their community-led development plans. These sessions are simultaneously interpreted into 5 languages.

Get to know the Global Advocacy Team below. Follow the Global Advocacy Team page for updates and to learn more about the amazing work of new Global Advocacy Team members! Email us at gat (@) accountabilityproject.org and follow IAP on social media – Facebook: bit.ly/IAP4FB and Twitter: @4accountability.

Centre for Community Mobilization and Support NGO is an organization established in 2009 in Alaverdi, Lori region, Armenia. CCMS works focus on facilitating participatory problem discovery and resolution in various areas, including protection of environment, human rights protection, children’s rights protection, community development, youth affairs, international cooperation, civil society, social issues, and formal/non formal education within the Republic of Armenia. Read more about the work of Centre for Community Mobilization and Support NGO in English and Armenian. 

“Joining the GAT team will provide an opportunity for a new network, as It is  very important to feel part of a team of like-minded people around the world, which will add impetus and motivation for both our team and those communities with whom we work.” – Oleg Dulgaryan, Center for Community Mobilization and Support NGO, Armenia 

Centre de Formation Pour l’Entraide et le Développement (CFEDEC), works with marginalized communities to promote human rights through solidarity, inclusion and equity. This organization was established in November 2014 by a group of school directors and professionals in various sectors such as agriculture, law, computer science, health, finance, and law, in La Victorie, Haiti. The aim was to establish a space for resource exchange, dialogue, and knowledge transfer among the community members. Read more about the work of Centre de Formation Pour l’Entraide et le Développement (CFEDEC) in English and French.

“I work with a very marginalized region. They have very little access to the internet and very little access to basic social services. We have been thinking about how we can share our experience working with this community all over the world. We are working on promoting many values like solidarity, inclusion and equity.  We are looking forward to value these initiatives all over the world.”  – Edex Paul, Centre de Formation Pour l’Entraide et le Développement (CFEDEC), Haiti 

Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) works to support her community in their decade-long campaign against multiple hydropower projects proposed in the Dzongu Valley (land reserved for the Lepcha community) and collectively protecting the last free flowing stretches of their sacred Teesta river. Read more about their work in English and Lepcha.

“We try to look into international platforms to bring our issues so that international people can intervene and listen to our challenges. This GAT is important because I can learn from the people and I can apply this to our people and community.” – Mayalmit Lepcha, Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), India

Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN) in Maluku is an independent organization with a vision to create a just and prosperous life for indigenous peoples in Indonesia. For 11 years, AMAN has been providing assistance and capacity building to indigenous peoples, particularly indigenous women and youth. The indigenous community in Maluku believes that they are the masters of their own customary land or territory. Read more about AMAN Maluku work with the indigenous community in Maluku in English and Bahasa Indonesia. 

“I hope that I can hear other success stories. What I did might not be as great as what other people have done in the GAT Team. I applied for this so I could share my experiences over the past 10 years on how to build trust.” – Martha Magdalena Patty, Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), Indonesia

Community Initiative Action Group Kenya (CIAG-K) was established in 2008.  CIAG-K supports change-makers to develop creative ideas for integrity in their communities and organizations and works with communities and social champions to dialogue with duty bearers as a means to transform societies for the benefit of the vulnerable and marginalized through influencing policy reform, citizen engagement, and promoting transparency and accountability. Read more about their work on IAP Medium.

“Working with the community requires values and patience and the ability or knowledge in using data to gather evidence. Integrity is critical. Peer to peer knowledge is deeper than classroom knowledge. Building a movement of practitioners across the world should go beyond the 8 GAT members. People can be part of the movement and can be a force through strong solidarity.” – Chrisphine Owalla, Community Initiative Action Group Kenya (CIAG-K)

Paghugpong sang Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras (PAMANGGAS)  is a part of the Peasant Movement of the Philippines (Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas). PAMANGGAS works toward ending landlessness and bringing about social justice through the realization of genuine agrarian reform in the country. Read more about the work of PAMANGGAS in English and Hiligaynon. 

“Forming the movement is one of the most important components of development. I want to be part of pursuing the movement that will further their development as a community.” Roque Cris  Chavez, Paghugpong sang Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras PAMANGGAS, Philippines 

INSIZA Women In Mining Trust works with marginalized groups including women, children, and disabled persons within the mining community in Insiza district of Zimbabwe. INSIZA Women In Mining Trust empowers women miners to formalize their mining operations, encourage practices that sustain the environment, and builds the capacity of women to engage in value addition.  Learn more about their work on IAP Medium.

“We build capacities for women and children. We are engaging them to tell them the right offices to approach, and educate them about the environmental practices.” – Kundai Chikonza, INSIZA Women In Mining Trust, Zimbabwe