American University

A grant to American University will support the continued work and growth of the Internet Governance Lab, including its efforts to (a) provide policy-engaged thought leadership to advance the marketplace of ideas with original research; (b) translate complex socio-technical problems for policymakers and the general public; (c) bring together diverse stakeholders; and (d) train the next generation of global thought leaders in internet governance approaches that promote security, infrastructure stability, freedom, growth, and innovation.

American University is establishing the Program on Legislative Negotiation as a joint endeavor of the Washington College of Law and the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies. The program is designed to help overcome legislative gridlock and has four immediate objectives: (a) to provide negotiation training for legislative members and staff, (b) to train students and professionals through experiential learning programs, (c) to facilitate and apply research on effective legislative negotiation, and (d) to build a community of scholars, journalists, policymakers, and others who share these goals. Support for this program enables American University to serve as a hub for this effort.

This grant will support the Accountability Research Center at American University. The Center conducts action research in partnership with civil society organizations that are testing various approaches to expand citizens’ access to and use of information to identify gaps in service provision and to demand improvements. Their research focuses on power dynamics, and whether and how service providers and government decision makers are responsive to these demands. The Center’s activities aim to build the capacity and create channels for innovative civil society organizations from low- and middle-income countries to interrogate and share what they are learning within the transparency, participation, and accountability field and with other global development practitioners.