Featured case study

Setting Up Post-Revolution Democratic Infrastructure

Inclusive elections are one of the most basic tenets of legitimate democracies. We built a digital voter registration platform to help foster greater inclusivity in Libya's elections.

Our projects.

Powering a Global Anti-Corruption Movement

We led the design and hosting of a global summit to define a common vision and strategic roadmap for a global anti-corruption movement, with participants from over 30 countries. We were cognizant to not just be a talkfest—90% of the initiatives designed at the summit were implemented, and we designed and guided a mentorship program […]

Article 19, B Team, CoST Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, Hivos, Open Contracting Partnership
usaid mission in uganda

Overcoming Institutional Barriers to Shifting Power

We led institutional ethnography of a major US federal agency working on global issues to understand the opportunities and challenges it faces—across strategy, human resources, procurement, culture, and data and tech infrastructure—in enabling the agency and empowerment of local communities. The work informed larger agency strategy and organizational development exercises.

USAID, FHI 360

Driving Equity in the Open Knowledge Movement

We directed research and strategy work across six countries for Wikimedia on various efforts, from better serving Global South audiences to supporting new editors, across products, programs, and partnerships. Our work was a key pillar of the 2030 movement strategy which centers knowledge equity as a core value.

Wikimedia Foundation
Kenyan journalist

Reimagining Resilient Media Innovation in Africa

We conducted foundational research and led the co-creation process—with activists, journalists, civil society, and media executives—for a new effort to defend and strengthen public-interest media in Kenya. The resulting effort, Baraza Media Lab, is pioneering new possibilities for vibrant, independent media can be, in Africa and beyond.

Baraza Media Lab, Luminate, Metta Nairobi

Co-Creating Open, Participatory, Accountable Governance

We supported coalitions of activists, civil society, and governments in several countries (Canada, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the US) to co-create and implement open government initiatives to advance public transparency, civic participation, and government accountability.

Centre for Innovations in Open Governance, Government of Austin (USA), Government of Elgeyo-Marakwet (Kenya), Government of Guadalajara (Mexico), Government of Ontario (Canada), Government of Sekondi-Takoradi (Ghana), Hewlett Foundation, International Budget Partnership, Open Government Partnership
user personas on desk

Centering Citizens in Open Government Visions

We led a co-creation process to develop NYC’s new 10-year open data strategy and roadmap that centered the real needs and lived experiences of New Yorkers, with a focus on communities that have been historically marginalized. The result was equally celebrated by both government officials (“an important milestone”) and open government activists (“we need more […]

BetaNYC, NYC Department of Information & Technology, NYC Mayor’s Office of Data & Analytics, Reinvent Albany

Building Solidarity for Press Freedom & Impact

We conducted foundational research and support a coalition of independent media organizations in Nigeria defending press freedom, and coordinating strategies around anti-corruption reporting. The work is one of MacArthur Foundation’s four $100M “big bets” to realize transformative change in areas of profound global concern.

Cable News Foundation, Daily Trust, Luminate, MacArthur Foundation, Nigeria Info, Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, Sahara Reporters, Tiger Eye, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism
Front of folder given to clients with court appointment reminder

Co-Creating Just Approaches to Criminal Justice

We led participatory research and design of multiple campaigns to tackle injustices in NYC’s criminal justice system, on issues like immigrant rights, supervised release, and warrant clearing. Partnering with community leaders and organizations, we centered the humanity and aspirations of marginalized communities in design, so that new initiatives protected their dignity and rights.

Brooklyn Community Bail Fund, NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, Legal Aid Society

Driving Innovative Partnerships for Accountable Government

We advised a major Presidential Initiative within the Government of Mexico on partnerships to drive innovations in public health, security, education, finance, and economic development. Drawing from the results, we co-authored Implementing Innovation, a guide to implementing such programs that was launched at the global Open Government Summit.

Office of the President of the Government of Mexico, Hewlett Foundation, Open Government Partnership, Policy Lab
civil society innovation initiative co creation workshop

Co-Creating a Global Network for Human Rights

We architected and facilitated the co-creation process for a $45M President Obama-initiated, Global South-led effort to support activists and human rights defenders around the world, which launched six regional hubs supporting activists and leaders in closed and closing civic spaces.

Aga Khan Development Network, CIVICUS, Counterpart International, Equal Ground, Open Society Foundations, PIANGO, Red Argentina para la Cooperación Internacional, SEACA, Sida, USAID, West Africa Civil Society Institute

Reframing Corruption to Drive Accountable Public Spending

We led the design and implementation of new methodology (“fiscal ethnography”) that blended public economics and applied ethnography to assess corruption through a decolonized lens. The work facilitated groundbreaking policy dialogues in Nigeria, and was celebrated for its innovation and insight by global public finance and governance experts.

Nigeria Citizens Action Network, Niger Delta Citizens Budget Platform, World Bank

Setting Up Post-Revolution Democratic Infrastructure

Inclusive elections are one of the most basic tenets of legitimate democracies. We built a digital voter registration platform to help foster greater inclusivity in Libya’s elections.

High National Election Commission of Libya, International Organisation for Migration, United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Caktus Group, Praekelt Foundation
design research for media development

Challenging Development Orthodoxy to Empower Marginalized Populations

We led an ethnographic study of the information and communications landscape in tribal Pakistan, to inform efforts to support local populations in a politically tumultuous time. Our work yielded insights that challenged development orthodoxy, and the commissioning nonprofit—a global leader in the field—asked us to produce a guide and train staff to mainstream our approach.

Internews

Rethinking How We Support Survivors of Human Trafficking

We led research and design of an outreach program for survivors of human trafficking in New York City. Our findings revealed the limitations of traditional approaches, which survivors found unrelatable and disempowering, and revealed new opportunities to reach and connect with these hard-to-reach populations.

Safe Horizons

Advocating for Decolonial Approaches to Movement Support

We conducted research in Egypt and Tunisia during and immediately after the Arab Spring, focused on understanding ways to support activists and civil society groups not covered in mainstream media. Our work and advocacy informed international investments in programs that prioritized local agency and sovereignty in the democratic transition process.  

TEDxCarthage, World Bank, Various Local Partners
service design pakistan

Maximizing Accessibility & Accountability of Humanitarian Relief

We led research and redesign of humanitarian relief programs in Pakistan. We diagnosed often unforeseen challenges—technical, cultural, and political—with existing systems, which were built off mobile banking infrastructure, and supported service delivery re-engineering to ensure it served those most in need.

Gates Foundation, MEDA, United Bank Limited