Dear readers,
As headlines spotlight democratic backsliding, rising inequality, and environmental crises, we stay focused on amplifying how trust, accountability, and civic action push back. In this edition of TAI Weekly, we bring you the latest—from updated tax expenditure data and participatory budgeting trends to compelling investigations on anti-corruption, plus our roundup of jobs and opportunities. Don’t miss our Virtual Press Briefing on Wednesday, May 14, where we’ll unpack what’s at stake at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development—details below. From civil society reforming France’s anti-money laundering laws to funders navigating populism and journalists exposing greenwashing in Brazil, the message for this week is clear: bold, collective action is more urgent than ever. Dive in—and let these stories drive your work forward.
Happy Reading!
TAI team
WHAT'S NEW?
The Global Tax Expenditures Database by Tax Expenditure Lab has been updated. Version 1.3.1 now includes updated data, new countries (Egypt and Zambia), and new country-specific profiles.
D-Hub’s “Anatomy of a Fall” analyzes why democrats lost working-class support, citing disconnects on inflation, immigration, and culture. Trump’s edge in authenticity and digital strategy played a key role. The report outlines a path for “Democratic Populism”: embrace broad majorities, offer a hopeful vision, listen without judgment, challenge elites, and stay authentic.
Brad Brooks-Rubin takes a closer look at mineral supply chains, asking why gold and other valuable resources remain so easily exploited by bad actors. He proposes practical solutions—from enhanced intelligence-sharing between industry and government to stronger use of advisories and proactive due diligence reporting.
Climate Action Against Disinformation's report scrutinizes the digital footprint of fifteen large agribusiness, mining, and fossil companies operating in Brazil. The report finds evidence of greenwashing and climate delay tactics, including vague language, nature-rinsing imagery, and claims not clearly supported by substantial actions or investments.
Gold mining is driving deforestation across the Amazon, particularly in southeast Brazil, the Guyana Shield, and southern Peru, with growing activity in Ecuador. The latest 2024 data from AI-tracked deforestation points out these impacts, supported by the Moore Foundation.
Joe Stiglitz warns that the United States (U.S) is becoming the world’s largest tax haven. He argues that international cooperation is essential for fair taxation of multinational corporations and the superrich—something that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has rejected, while also embracing crypto.
People Powered has updated their compilation of impact data on participatory budgeting (PB), summarizing dozens of studies with evidence-based recommendations for advocating, organizing, or designing PB initiatives. The date includes 19 key findings on PB's impacts, a new interactive Airtable database, and an updated research brief.
An analysis by the EU Tax Observatory reveals that the effective tax rate of multinational companies in the European Union dropped by 2.7 percentage points between 2014 and 2022. This decline—driven in part by tax competition among Member States—resulted in tax revenue losses equivalent to 3.5% of the taxes collected from the sample firms.
Nicola Nixon and Gopa Kumar Thampi of The Asia Foundation summarize a new review of the foundation’s long-term engagement in Sri Lanka. Authors reflect on reform efforts, including the importance of middle-ranking officials, 'working with the grain' narratives, and investing in officials' soft (relational) skills.
Tamsin S. Mitchell’s article in The Conversation explores how state agents target journalists even as governments profess to protect them—offering stark warnings from Mexico and Honduras. The piece is based on research supported by the UK Economic and Social Research Council. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, NGOs and journalists advocating for banking transparency and financial governance reforms are facing mounting backlash from entrenched interests.
Agustina De Luca argues in Open Ownership that the Financing for Development Outcome Document should commit to ending company secrecy. She explains three reasons why knowing who ultimately owns, controls, and benefits from companies and high-value assets is crucial for effective public resource mobilization.
Closer Than You Think is conducting research on accountability in philanthropy during this time of rupture and change in the sector. The research examines accountability from two perspectives - funders and those who participate in accountability structures. Responses will help develop field-wide insights on effective accountability approaches, especially related to girl and young feminists and broader social movements. Complete the survey for funders or complete the survey for accountability structure members.
The latest in-depth annual publication details the variety of risks, threats, and attacks faced by human rights defenders (HRD) worldwide. During 2024, Front Line Defenders supported 3,354 HRDs at Risk and 579 organizations in 147 countries, with 2,068 reported violations across 105 countries. The HRD Memorial documented the killings of at least 324 HRDs in 32 countries in 2024.
“Mandates, Money and Movements” is a new policy report from Christian Aid that examines how multilateral economic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted gender equality, care, and women’s rights. The report sheds light on gaps and opportunities for more just and inclusive policymaking.
ESSENTIAL LISTENING
The Mastercard Foundation's new podcast, hosted by Reeta Roy, "Transcending Boundaries," takes listeners on an enlightening journey into the heart of values-based leadership.
FROM OUR MEMBERS
CHANDLER FOUNDATION: Tim Hanstad joins with Rakesh Rajani (a TAI Steering Committee alum) to write "Helping NGOs and Funders Make the 'Big Shift' to Working With Government" in Stanford Social Innovation Review.
TAI Secretariat: As global leaders gear up for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) next month in Seville, Spain, we are hosting a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, May 14th, to spotlight the critical need for international financing to support sustainable development. Panelists will explore why a bold investment push is urgently needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and highlight the growing role of philanthropy in filling funding gaps that public and private sectors alone can’t meet. You can register for the briefing here.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Accountability Lab and Humentum are conducting a follow-up survey to understand how organizations affected by USAID cuts are faring. Available in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic. If your organization is thinking about a partnership, merger, or other organizational change, they've set up a mergers and partnerships hub to provide support. Take the survey or submit partnership information.
TOOLS AND TRENDS FOR FUNDERS
Bill Gates will donate 99% of his remaining tech fortune to the Gates Foundation, which will now close in 2045, earlier than previously planned. Today, that would be worth an estimated $107 billion – among the largest philanthropic gifts ever.
David Barnard has compiled a useful calendar highlighting key events shaping the African NGO and philanthropy landscape.
Guerrilla Foundation rethinks impact measurement: Working with Toby Lowe, they challenge the reliance on "fantasy data" that feeds performative realities rather than meaningful learning. If social justice is about redefining our value system, then "impact" itself is in urgent need of reframing.
Social change expert Joe McCannon calls on leaders of social movements and philanthropic initiatives to deploy emerging approaches to massive collaboration: "When authoritarianism and wealth consolidation are on the rise, people need to understand the many methods available to expand their power…New and existing forms of mass action are extremely timely and feasible, and they deserve a more prominent place in our thinking and our strategies."
ESSENTIAL WATCHING
Diálogos CONNECTAS (in Spanish): “Inteligencia colectiva: reorientar la lógica de la cooperación internacional” brings together three experts to discuss the urgent need to rethink traditional North-South cooperation models. The conversation explores how to build more equitable partnerships, diversify funding sources, and support the long-term sustainability of civic work.
FOCUSED TOPIC OF THE WEEK:
Confronting Corruption Through Transparency, Democracy, and Systemic Reform
In today’s complex landscape of global governance, corruption continues to undermine democratic institutions, stall economic progress, and erode social justice—often hitting the most vulnerable communities hardest. For funders, confronting corruption requires more than supporting regulatory reforms; it calls for strategic, long-term investments in transparency, institutional integrity, and locally informed solutions, alongside sustained international cooperation.
Recent insights underscore the importance of ethical governance and the continuous strengthening of democratic systems. For instance, the Land Portal’s practical guide on transparency in land governance offers a framework for tackling corruption in the land sector—an area rife with opaque transactions and deep-rooted power imbalances. It shows how systematic transparency can dismantle entrenched corruption, particularly where land rights directly shape economic opportunity and social stability.
Similarly, the SOAS ACE (School of Oriental and African Studies’ Anti-Corruption Evidence) publication "Navigating the Political Economy of Corruption" reveals the need for context-sensitive strategies. Drawing on case studies from Bangladesh and Nigeria, it highlights corruption as a dynamic interplay of power, institutional incentives, and local political economies—underscoring that one-size-fits-all solutions rarely succeed.
The situation in Romania illustrates the ongoing tension between protecting democratic integrity and responding to threats against it. When election interference jeopardized democratic processes, the Constitutional Court's intervention highlighted the vital role of independent institutions in safeguarding democratic norms.
From a global cooperation perspective, Stephen M. Kohn’s work on international anti-corruption enforcement suggests that as the U.S. retreats from its traditional leadership role, other liberal democracies can step in by adapting effective anti-corruption mechanisms. This shift reinforces that combating corruption is increasingly a shared global responsibility.
Lastly, the OECD’s Integrity and Anti-Corruption Review of Ukraine exemplifies the power of institutional resilience. Even amid conflict, Ukraine’s reform efforts show that systemic change is possible—even under extreme duress—when backed by political will and international support.
Together, these examples offer a clear message to funders: addressing corruption is not just a governance issue—it is a critical investment in the foundations of democracy, justice, and equitable development.
ESSENTIAL WATCHING
Watch this conversation on how local partnerships in La Guajira, Colombia are building youth leadership and advancing inclusive energy transitions (in Spanish).
JOBS
Multiple openings - Hewlett Foundation
Different Roles - MacArthur Foundation
Various Opportunities - Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Multiple positions - Brennan Center for Justice
Researcher for methodology on measuring the impact of beneficial ownership transparency on public procurement - Open Ownership. Deadline May 18, 2025.
Partnership Portfolio Specialist (2 positions) - Foundations and Philanthropies (2 positions). UNDP Careers. Deadline May 19, 2025.
Managing Director - Coalition for the UN We Need. Deadline May 26, 2025.
Communications Coordinator (Berlin hybrid) - Apolitical Foundation. Deadline May 26, 2025.
Senior Legal Manager, Governance and Accountability Programme - International Lawyers Project. Deadline May 28, 2025.
CALLS
Take the World Bank's Introduction to Public Expenditure & Financial Accountability course. Learn about the PEFA framework, which assesses a country's public financial management system. Complete the course and pass the final quiz to earn a certificate.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is organizing a contest focusing on reporting on governance and development in Africa. Deadline: May 14, 2025.
Funding available for investigative journalism projects in Belgium and the Netherlands. Deadline May 15, 2025.
The Information Clearinghouse team at the Coalition for the UN We Need is conducting a survey to map civil society stakeholders engaged in monitoring the advancement of the Pact for the Future. Deadline May 16, 2025.
A week-long international summer transparency school in Vilnius, Lithuania, from June 29 to July 5 for those interested in tackling corruption, strengthening access to information, or joining a global network of transparency advocates. Deadline May 18, 2025.
The Thousand Currents Academy in Atlanta, will bring funders and allies together to support unrestricted, long-term funding for Global South movements, fostering systems change through trust and accountability, May 19-22, 2025.
The 10th edition of the School for Thinktankers returns to Fundació Bofill in Barcelona in 2026. Submit your early-bird application.
CALENDAR
The Networks Festival - A six-week global gathering to connect, imagine, and rewire how change happens, May 12 - June 22, 2025.
Webinar: Building back Power: Community Philanthropy as a Radical Force Beyond Aid, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM (UTC+02:00).
Building back Power: Community Philanthropy as a Radical Force Beyond Aid. May 13, 2025, 13:00 BST | 14:00 CET.
Who (gets to) build? Interactive workshop on driving change through the built environment, Wednesday, May 14th, 8.30 – 10 am EST.
RSVP - Illegal Gold Mining and Dirty Money: Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Environmental Crime in the Americas, FACT Coalition, in-person on Wednesday, May 14th in Washington DC at the Open Gov Hub (1100 13th St. NW – Suite 800) from 9:00 - 11:00 am.
What grantees are saying: how well are European funders listening? Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (UTC+02:00).
Global Democracy and Executive Power Conference, May 19–23, 2025.
Open Gov Week. If you're planning an event to share, consult, or co-create around open government, register and be part of this global movement! Submit events and learn more at opengovweek.org. May 19–23, 2025.
2025 Financing for Feminist Futures conference, Madrid, Spain. May 21-23, 2025.
From data to impact: climate finance and sustainability standards driving open government, CoST’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Week online event. May 22nd, 2025.
Beyond Neoliberalism Conference in Cambridge, May 29-31, 2025.
Philea Forum 2025 “Power and Equality: A Balancing Act”, Lisbon, June 2-5, 2025.
8th Impacts of Civic Technology Conference (TICTeC), Mechelen, and online. June 10 and 11 2025.
Foro Permanente latinoamericano para la Decolonización de la cooperación, Bogota, 11-12 June, 2025
Leading Locally 2025, Minneapolis - St. Paul, June 10-12, 2025.
On Think Tanks Conference 2025, Johannesburg, South Africa, June 16 - 18, 2025.
International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) - Berlin, June 23-25, 2025.
OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Civil Society Days (CSDs), 18-19 June 2025 at the OECD in Paris and online.
2025 World Justice Forum, Warsaw, Poland. June 23-26, 2025.
4th International Financing for Development Conference, Seville, June 30 - July 3, 2025
2025 Global Procurement Forum, OECD, Paris, July 1 and 2, 2025.
5th African Conference on Debt and Development (AfCoDD V), Accra, Ghana, August 27-29, 2025.
Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, October 7-9, 2025
2025 IPI World Congress and Media Innovation Festival, Vienna, October 23 - 25, 2025.
International Civil Society Week 2025, co-organized by CIVICUS global civil society alliance and Asia Democracy Network, Bangkok . 1-5 November 2025.
Global Investigative Journalism Conference (#GIJC25). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Thursday, November 20-24, 2025.
11th Session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), Doha, Qatar. December 14-19, 2025.
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