In today’s environment of increased scrutiny and uncertainty around aid budgets, the concepts of transparency and accountability are more important than ever.
But it can be about more than just publishing balance sheets, according to Restless Development, the nonprofit for youth-led development, which won the first ever Transparency Award in London last month from U.K. NGO network Bond. Instead, transparency can be used to improve the work of an organization and empower its beneficiaries, COO Perry Maddox told Devex.
In 2015, Restless Development began a process that led to what it calls “dynamic accountability.” Rather than publishing to be compliant with the U.K. International Aid Transparency Initiative and the Charity Commission, it began making everything from staff salaries to board meeting minutes publicly available.