The Transparency, Accountability and Participation (TAP) Network is an international coalition of various groups that advocates around United Nations-aligned initiatives and policy goals, in particular the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is comprised of an agenda of 17 sustainable development goals (referred to as SDG16+).  ^{2  3}

TAP Network is a fiscally sponsored project of the Accountability Lab, a left-of-center government accountability watchdog.  ⁴

Background

As of February 2026, TAP Network claimed to have nearly 240 member organizations in 77 different countries. Moreover, the TAP Network claimed to have 150 partner organizations that support the network’s mission.  ^{5  6}

The TAP Network’s 2026-2027 steering committee was composed of the African Center of Excellence for Access to Justice, the Asia Development Alliance, the Alliance for Peacebuilding, Forus, the Legal Empowerment Fund, and MY World Mexico.  ⁷

According to the TAP Network’s strategic plan for 2023 to 2025, its purpose is to work towards “implementation and monitoring for SDG16+ – aimed at Fostering Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies – and around ensuring accountability for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 2030 Agenda more broadly.” According to the group, much of this UN policy agenda has been backsliding, with what it claims have been “disturbing mega-trends,” including an increase of wars, human rights abuses, and restrictions on civil freedoms.  ³

Activities

The TAP Network is largely concerned with advocacy for the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is comprised of an agenda of 17 sustainable development goals (referred to as SDG16+). The UN claims its 2030 Agenda was unanimously adopted by all member countries.  ^{2  3}

The seventeen goals include the elimination of poverty and hunger, access to clean water, affordable energy, “urgent action to combat climate change,” reducing inequality between and within countries, and making “human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”  ²

The TAP Network’s actions mostly revolve around advocating initiatives aimed at implementing these global policy goals, as well as conducting accountability reports such as its campaign, a “Decade of Accountability for the SDGs,” which it claims is a “multi-stakeholder partnership mobilizing accountability actors.”  ^{3  8}

Fiscal Sponsorship

The TAP Network is a fiscally sponsored project of the Accountability Lab, a left-of-center charitable and advocacy nonprofit. The Accountability Lab is a government accountability watchdog group. Fiscal sponsorship is an arrangement whereby a registered nonprofit can receive tax-deductible donations and manage finances on behalf of another group under its umbrella that does not have its own tax-exempt status.  ⁹

The TAP Network also lists the Proteus Fund, a left-of-center grantmaking and passthrough funder, as a fiscal sponsor on its donation page.  ⁹

People

As of 2026, John Romano was the director of the TAP Network. Previously, Romano worked at Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future and the Natural Resources Defense Council. He also worked for the UN secretariat with UNDESA’s division for sustainable development.  ¹⁰

As of 2026, Elena Marmo was the head of advocacy and campaigns at the TAP Network, where part of her duties involved “policy-advocacy around key UN processes” according to the TAP Network. Previously, Marmo worked with the Global Policy Forum. She has also worked for “society stakeholder groups, notably the Women’s Major Group, to develop and advance civil gender equality and economic justice.” At the time, Marmo was also working as an adjunct assistant professor in Peace and Justice Studies at Pace University.  ¹⁰

2. “The 17 Goals | Sustainable Development.” United Nations. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://sdgs.un.org/goals. 
3. “2023-2025 Strategic Plan.” TAP Network. Accessed February 23, 2026. https://tapnetwork2030.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-2025-Strategic-Plan.pdf. 
4. “Donation Page.” TAP Network, December 20, 2024. https://tapnetwork2030.org/donate/. 
5. “Membership.” TAP Network, February 2, 2021. https://tapnetwork2030.org/members/. 
6. “Tap Partner Platforms.” TAP Network, January 9, 2024. https://tapnetwork2030.org/action/. 
7. “Tap Network Steering Committee.” TAP Network, December 17, 2025. https://tapnetwork2030.org/tapnetworksteeringcommittee/. 
8. “Decade of Accountability.” SDG Accountability Portal, June 26, 2020. https://www.sdgaccountability.org/decade/. 
9. “Donation Page.” TAP Network, December 20, 2024. https://TAPnetwork2030.org/donate/. 
10. “TAP Network Secretariat.” TAP Network, June 16, 2025. https://TAPnetwork2030.org/TAP-secretariat/.