TAI Weekly

TAI Weekly | Who Controls the Digital Future?

By TAI (Role at TAI)
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TAI Weekly

November 10, 2026

Dear readers,

This past week’s election results in the United States and South Africa continued both the anti-incumbency trend and related desire for more accountable government, and, in a timely piece, Deirdre Nansen McCloskey reminds us that good institutions require good people to work effectively.

Of course, there are still many efforts to clamp down on civic space and demands for accountability - in Tanzania, opposition leader Tundu Lissu was acquitted of a terrorism charge, but still jailed for 4 years for “incitement.”

Read on for all the latest news, research, funding developments, jobs, calls for proposals and events. 

TAI team

What's New 

As youth-led protests (and votes) have been challenging governments across the world in recent weeks, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown examines the anger behind this “youthquake”, arguing that broken promises and unmet expectations have left a generation increasingly disillusioned. The protests raise important questions about political accountability, representation, and the future of democratic institutions.

China is making a new pitch to the Global South as it seeks to reshape international institutions governing trade, finance, and development. At the 2026 Global Governance Forum, Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s speech is fascinating reading. He celebrated that over 160 countries and international organizations have joined its Global Governance Initiative and argued that, “Global governance must keep pace with the rapid evolution of human society… We should embrace the principle of peace, sovereignty, inclusiveness and joint governance, and transform the new frontiers from arenas of zero-sum competition into areas of international cooperation.”  Notably, debt remains largely absent from the proposals, despite China's position as a major creditor to many Global South countries.

Why does the International Energy Agency, an organization largely funded by public resources, keep much of its data behind paywalls? Hannah Ritchie makes the case for opening up the agency's data, saying that public access would strengthen transparency and support more informed decision-making on energy and climate issues. 

How can international cooperation help rebuild trust in an increasingly fractured world? An expert roundtable held on September 30 explored regional and global governance responses, drawing on the fourth annual Future of International Cooperation Report (FIC'26). A summary report captures the discussions and proposals for renewing trust across institutions and societies.

In “Transnational Authoritarianism and International Order,” Alexander Cooley and Alexander Dukalskis examine how authoritarian governments, including China, have adapted to globalization. Their work explores how these regimes have learned not only to survive but also to thrive within an increasingly interconnected international system.

The relationship between public health and democracy is the focus of a new article in Nonprofit Quarterly. Selma Aly and Julian Drix argue that defending public health is inseparable from defending democratic participation, examining how access to essential services, strong public institutions, and the ability to influence policy shape people's health and democratic rights.

The Financial Action Task Force, the global anti-money laundering watchdog, is calling for coordinated international action to disrupt the illicit financial flows sustaining scam compounds. Its new report examines the financial networks behind these operations and the importance of stronger cross-border cooperation to tackle the proceeds of criminal activity. 

According to the Hurun list, China now has 1,176 dollar billionaires, surpassing the United States. Adam Tooze examines this growth in personal wealth and considers what a new generation of wealth holders, particularly those inheriting their fortunes, could mean for Chinese society and beyond. 

A new Pew Research Center study covering 37 countries finds that majorities in seven of the world's wealthiest nations believe social media harms democracy. This includes 70% of respondents in the Netherlands and 65% in France. While many associate social media with manipulation and division, they also recognize its role in informing citizens and giving them a voice in politics.

Public-interest media organizations need greater influence over the development of generative AI, argues a recent discussion hosted by The Data Tank. Speakers examined how EU policy can address growing power asymmetries. Their discussion emphasized collective bargaining and the need to protect smaller, local, and investigative outlets. 

Finance ministers recently gathered at the United Nations for a High-Level Meeting on the Future of International Tax Cooperation. The meeting addressed the evolving international tax landscape and the importance of multilateral approaches to shared challenges. 

ESSENTIAL READING:

The 2026 Aid Transparency Index from Publish What You Fund finds that 20 of the 33 organizations assessed are rated good or very good, despite unprecedented cuts to development assistance. The African Development Bank ranks first for the third consecutive time, while Spain's AECID records the biggest improvement in the Index's history. However, overall progress has stalled, and Germany, the US, and the UK have all slipped. Performance information remains the weakest area, with the public often able to see what was spent but not what it achieved. 

FROM Our Members

HEWLETT FOUNDATION: Is celebrating its 60th anniversary, marking six decades of supporting people, communities, and nature. Its anniversary platform reflects on the foundation's journey and contributions, including its engagement in discussions such as the TAI hosted’ Funders’ Roundtable on the Future of Development. 

OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS: Why do OSF' Network Grants prioritize team players alongside individual performance? In Devex, Dierdre Williams explains the thinking behind grants averaging $3 million, unrestricted and available for up to seven years. With most partners joining through referrals, Williams outlines what the foundation looks for when supporting organizations and networks.

MACARTHUR FOUNDATION: President John Palfrey explains the Foundation’s plans to increase its charitable giving through 2028, outlining the foundation's approach to expanding its philanthropic commitments and supporting its work in the years ahead. 

FORD FOUNDATION: Seeks a Program Director to lead its international Democracy and the Rule of Law work, advancing civic participation, public voice and more inclusive, accountable societies through strategic grantmaking. Deadline: December 04, 2026.

ESSENTIAL READING:

The October edition of Trust in Transition, a monthly Substack published by the Trust Project at WiSER, brings together research and developments on finance, technology, and trust across Africa. The publication follows how these issues evolve and intersect, offering a regular source of analysis on the region's changing landscape. 

TOOLS AND TRENDS FOR FUNDERS

As civic space contracts in the United States, funders may find valuable lessons in countries that have experienced democratic decline for much longer. In Stanford Social Innovation Review, Laura McKechnie draws on more than 15 years of experience supporting nonprofits in Russia, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, and Hungary to share five lessons on protecting organizations, sustaining collaboration, and reducing grantee isolation amid growing uncertainty. 

The Global Fund for Women plans to distribute $100 million without an open call. Its CEO explains why peer referrals are taking precedence over traditional proposals and why the fund is reconsidering its own flexible-funding rules. 

Can philanthropy do more to address the structures that sustain gender inequality? This piece in Alliance magazine by Andrew Jones and Jena Lee Nardella argues that lasting progress for women and girls requires funders to engage with faith leaders and communities, rather than treating faith solely as a risk to manage. 

Norway was the world's most generous aid donor in 2025, spending 1.03% of its gross national income on development assistance. But that commitment may be changing. Devex reports that the country is likely to miss its longstanding 1% target next year, raising concerns about the future of international aid as other major donors cut spending. 

Focused Topic of the Week

After the AI Race: Who Gets to Shape the Digital Future?

Shared systems such as digital identity, payment platforms, data-sharing mechanisms, and public registries can help governments deliver services. But infrastructure alone does not guarantee public value; its design and governance matter. Who controls the infrastructure, looks different from Accra or Addis Ababa - at stake is the ability to develop and govern technology in line with local needs. Ghana’s communications minister has called for greater African autonomy in shaping digital systems, and Ethiopia’s approach to AI governance reflects wider efforts to protect data sovereignty and build regional capacity.

Practical examples of the technology’s utility might inform government uptake and regulation. AI can strengthen public accountability when it is used within the right institutional safeguards. The Open Contracting Partnership explores how AI and open contracting data could help flag corruption risks in public procurement, including in Chile. The International Centre for Tax and Development asks whether tax administrations have the expertise to adopt AI effectively. Both point to the same distinction: introducing new tools is not the same as building the skills and oversight to use them responsibly.

In The Gambia, parliamentary staff are already making informal use of AI, although the technology has not been formally integrated into parliamentary proceedings. These applications can improve productivity, but also raise concerns about accuracy, oversight, and excessive reliance on AI-generated content in official processes. The case highlights the importance of maintaining human judgment in parliamentary work.

What roe for philanthropy in these debates and encouraging outcomes that serve the pubic good? In Alliance magazine, Gastón Wright considers how philanthropy could influence AI’s development, including through encouragement of participatory budgeting and citizens’ assemblies, while the new series “Misaligned” looks at the capacity civil society needs to engage with AI governance and defend democratic values.

Publics will continue to evolve their attitudes to AI as they assess the costs and benefits in real time. The elections in the United States this past week revealed concerns as voters in 10 US states were asked 41 times whether to limit data center development in their communities. In 40 of those local ballot measures, they sided with limits, either by approving restrictions or by rejecting measures that would have made development  easier. Expect more debates around the globe, not just on use of AI for public service delivery, but around regulation of its development and application. When resources sit with a handful of private providers, resilience and accountability become real concerns. 

JOBS

CALLS

  • Coefficient Giving has introduced Launchpad Funds, a request for proposals to seed new funds or scale existing ones addressing important, underfunded problems.

  •  The European Endowment for Democracy provides rolling funding for local democracy organizations in the Eastern Partnership, Middle East and North Africa, and Western Balkans and Turkey.

  • The Fifth Element invites blog contributions on systems transformation from practitioners and researchers, drawing on both lived experience and analysis across diverse perspectives.

  • Open Technology Fund, Internet Freedom Fund: Grants of up to $900,000 support tools and research for online privacy, anti-censorship, and digital security. Individuals aged 18+ and organizations worldwide may apply. Full proposals are by invitation after a concept note, with applications accepted on a rolling basis. 

  • RINGO Reverse Call for Proposals: RINGO invites international actors, including funders and INGOs, to support locally determined priorities through funding or in-kind assistance. The model puts local civil society organizations in the driving seat, allowing them to assess which partners can best meet their needs. 

  • Call for Proposals: Protecting and Promoting Union Values - The European Union invites proposals from intermediaries providing financial support to civil society organizations working to protect and promote EU values.

  • 2nd Research Symposium on the Evidence and Impact of Beneficial Ownership Transparency - Open Ownership and the World Bank invite researchers to submit proposals examining the impact of beneficial ownership transparency. Deadline: November 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

  • Creative Bureaucracy Festival, Global Call for Participation 2027: Submit projects, research, and creative ideas to challenge public administration. Selected contributions will be presented in Berlin on June 3, 2027. Deadline: December 11, 2026. 

  • Support for Local Media Initiatives: EEA Civil Society Fund Greece offers project-based funding for local media initiatives led by civil society organizations in Greece. Deadline: December 15, 2026.

  • OECD Anti-Corruption Research Challenge 2027: Researchers are invited to participate in the 2027 challenge. Deadline: January 10, 2026.

  • Investigative Reporting Grant for Nonpartisan Stories: FIJ Grant Applications 2027 offers funding for freelance journalists producing nonpartisan stories across all regions. Deadline: January 29, 2027.

  • School for Thinktankers, On Think Tanks. February 1-5, 2027.

  • Global Shining Light Award: A prize recognizing investigative reporting produced under duress, with a focus on watchdog journalism in the Global South. Deadline: February 28.

  • F. M. Kirby Prize for Scaling Impact: Applications are open for $150,000 in unrestricted funding to support organizations looking to scale their impact. More information.

CALENDAR

We’d love to hear from you on how we can further improve TAI Weekly to better serve your needs in program management on the transparency, accountability, improved grantmaking and civic space. Please direct your feedback to [email protected] or

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