ActionStartsWith You
Governance in Action
We work with people at both local and global levels to help them solve problems and achieve common goals. Overcoming challenges and power dynamics requires creativity, fresh perspectives, and determination. We assist agents of change in connecting, collaborating, and supporting each other to create meaningful change. Learn more about how we’re making it happen.
Our Work in Peru
An ecosystem model for regional development processes. Together with the Inter-American Development Bank, we are building a collaborative intervention model to strengthen the capacity of local civil society, government and...
Our Work in Colombia
Securing pathways that make Colombia’s energy transition a Just one. We promote participatory governance in the energy transition and strengthen local coalitions for sustainable transformations, putting communities at...
State Capture Matters: Associated Dataset and Index
Article | Note: This article by senior fellow Daniel Kaufmann explores the concept of state capture. It presents a global State Capture Index, revealing how state capture differs from...
The Climate Justice Initiative
The global climate system should work for both people and the planet. We support emerging and established coalitions in the...
Explorations
Making progress in governance requires perspective. We embrace an exploration mindset that goes beyond technical fixes and relying on a single intervention. Each of our Explorations functions as an incubator or laboratory of ideas to tackle concrete governance challenges. The goal is to quickly assess whether we’re heading in the right direction and make course corrections when necessary.
Local-Global Coordination for Impact
Meet the 
Governance Explorers 
These are people like you, driving innovation, creating solutions and making a difference in governance. Do you have a story to share or someone to nominate? Contact us!
Mario Huapaya
Mario Huapaya is a former Senior Consultant with the Special Group for Mining, Geothermal, and Hydrocarbons at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Cooperative for Good Living and Peace
The Cooperative for Good Living and Peace provides services and educational programs in the Territorial Space for Training and Reincorporation (ETCR), a designated area aimed at supporting the...
Bon Besmanos
Bon Besmanos is the National Coordinator, Bantay Kita – Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Philippines.
Violeta Vigo
Violeta Vigo is the Executive Director of Asociación Los Andes de Cajamarca (ALAC, Association The Andes of Cajamarca).
Paul-Joel Kamtchang
Paul-Joel Kamtchang is the Executive Secretary, Association for Integrated Development and Interactive Solidarity / L’Association pour le Développement intégré et la Solidarité Interactive (ADISI-CAMEROUN).
Jarly Villalobo
Jarly Villalobo is a community member of the Coropontain community in Colombia.
Livinus Njume Esambe
Livinus Njume Esambe is the Executive Director of the Action for Governance over Natural Resources (AGNR), an NGO in Cameroon, actively...
Ndi Nancy Saiboh
Ndi Nancy Saiboh is the Founder and Executive Director, Actions for Development and Empowerment. She is also the Country Director Follow The Money – Cameroon.
Jai Asundi
Jai Asundi is the Executive Director, Center for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP), an independent think-tank based in Bangalore, India, with a mission to enrich policymaking with innovative...
Jane Mariara
Jane Mariara is the Executive Director of the Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP), a global organization that focuses on supporting
Juan Fernando Higuita
Juan Fernando Higuita is the Sustainable Energy Senior Officer at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) office in Colombia.
Marco Zaplan
Marco Zaplan is a public policy and data specialist, and Executive Director of Gov Data Initiative Inc. He won the EITI data hackathon in 2022 with his tool PREDICT...
Olanrewaju Suraju
Olanrewaju Suraju is the Chairman of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), a non-governmental organization and non-partisan human rights and development organization in Nigeria.
Ramat Jadesola Owolabi
Ramat Jadesola Owolabi is the Head of Climate Change and Community Development, Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative.
Sandra Ramzy
Sandra Ramzy is a researcher on a mission to transform the systems of social change.
Regina Pasion
Regina Pasion is a social psychologist and Senior Program Officer at the Asia Foundation, based in Manila, Philippines.
Join the Governance Explorers
We are bringing together a global network of people eager to rethink governance and influence local, national and global debates.
"Goodwill from both government and local community leaders is essential for successful climate action"
"The question is how do you get the good idea to reach the right people to make change?"
Our Catalyzing Themes
We have identified four interconnected themes as catalysts for exploring new approaches to governance. Each offers a window of opportunity and reflects a strong appetite for innovation. These themes are deeply intertwined, requiring us to approach them from multiple angles. Do they resonate with you? Are you ready to explore new ways of thinking and acting on governance in these areas? Join us.
Subnational Development Processes
Can a collaborative and subnational model to engage people in the implementation of local development strategies show the way for country-wide action? Starting with Peru and Colombia, we are exploring how to turn opportunities for change at the subnational level into opportunities for increased trust in development processes and improvements in outcomes deemed a priority for local actors.
Climate Action and Energy Transition
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime. Do we have the right governance in place to elicit country reforms and global action? Will energy transition processes be truly Just? Explore with us how to build governance systems that reflect the priorities of the people most at risk, one that accounts for and corrects historical inequities. Take a look at our work in Colombia and, soon, the Philippines. Join us in eliciting global action ahead of COP in Brazil!
State Capture and Corruption
We have come a long way in understanding state capture as a challenge that is different from corruption. State capture can be legal and can lead to progressive weakening of institutions. Can collective collective action help tackling it? Check out what State Capture is all about, and explore the State Capture Index, and learn more on plans for an upcoming State Capture Collaborative.
Rethinking Democracy
Beyond renewal, democracy may need a rethinking, questioning, analyzing our beliefs on what a democracy really is. How do we make the democratic process work better for people? Maybe by showing its value and impact in solving concrete problems people face. Stay tuned for more from the Governance Action Hub on this.