Accountability is NOT the same as being held accountable. Being held accountable comes from outside of us and is usually out of our hands. Accountability is what we have control over. It is something we do and something we offer of ourselves to those around us.
Accountability means that when we make mistakes, we want to know it and to fix them. This requires a willingness and the capacity to learn from the mistakes. Believing we have the capacity to act is also a form of accountability. Accountability is essential to learning. It also demonstrates respect!
Organizations and Accountability
Organizations can emphasize the stewardship of resources both internally, and in their discourse with the rest of the world. They can come up with ways to measure this realistically, and not measures that look and sound like propaganda.
Organizations can emphasize problem solving in the face of complex crises, not abandoning people to the chaos. We can choose to remain in situations that others have left because we are working closely with people on real solutions.
Organizations can work with local authorities to promote the rule of law. They can support good actors in their initiatives. They can avoid contributing to corruption. Combine this with work weeding out theft along the impunity axis, finding and supporting the local structures of prevention and justice.
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