Accountability Lab

🗳️ In the run up to Nepal’s most “youthful” elections in June, Accountability Lab Nepal answered the question “how do we funnel young people’s appetite for institutional change and proven movement building skills into existing processes?”

As part of the Youth-Led Election Monitoring initiative, the Lab designed an approach with space enough for young people to observe and experience the electoral process firsthand, but also flexibility for it to be directed by the young people involved.

The initiative engaged 15 Nepali youth (aged 20-34) as observers and frontline civic activists. They captured refreshing metrics such as evolving rumours, concerns, and evolving public narratives, while tracking the election event through the lens of underemphasised indicators such as green elections, inclusion, and intergenerational narrative on emerging youth candidates. Their tech savvy also tracked and captured conversation around electoral candidates online – uncovering cases of misinformation and digital attacks by bots.

Through this initiative, the Lab also supported domestic election observer organizations by strengthening their mandate, expertise, and networks to conduct observation activities during the election period.

This is just some of what emerged from intentionally centering youth leadership and not tokenistic involvement.

👓 Read the full piece in the The Diplomat Nepal:

Nepali Youths in the Frontline of Electoral Governance - The Diplomat Nepal Kathmandu: The Nepali Youths catalyzed the movement and have transitioned to the governance reform process in Nepal. The question now remains if their