Tom Weerachat Named Deputy Director of the International Accountability Project
The International Accountability Project (IAP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Weerachat as its new Deputy Director.
Tom has been a central part of IAP for a decade. As Global Lead for Community-Led Advocacy and Program Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, he has played a pivotal role in advancing community-led approaches in local and international human and environmental rights campaigns. He has also led the development of IAP’s community-led tools and approaches, which are now fully integrated across campaigns in more than twenty countries.
“Tom, in many ways, exemplifies IAP’s holistic approach that communities are the experts of their own development. Tom is a recognized global thought leader and well-loved practitioner on community-led development and development justice, most importantly among the communities and partners IAP has around the world,” said Ryan Schlief, Executive Director of IAP.
“Over the years, Tom Ji has made remarkable contributions to our community-led advocacy efforts. He has helped the communities understand their rights and responsibilities in relation to the Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and JICA-funded Tanahu Hydropower Project in Nepal. Through his multiple visits to Nepal, he built a genuine bond with the communities, providing both encouragement and solidarity. Importantly, he supported community-led research and developed a very effective one-page briefing note on the impacts of the Tanahu Hydropower Project on Indigenous Peoples. This tool empowered communities to present their concerns directly to project authorities, the Government of Nepal, and international financial institutions such as the ADB and EIB. We deeply value Tom Ji’s commitment, empathy, and solidarity, and we are confident that in his new leadership role, he will continue to strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ struggles and voices globally,” said Ritu Thapa from INWOLAG.
Tom led IAP’s Global Advocacy Team (GAT), bringing together community organizers and activists from around the world to strengthen local struggles with community-led data and to reimagine how development is designed, funded, and carried out. He has been the driving force behind IAP’s learning guides and tools, including the Community Action Guides on “What Is Development?”, Community-Led Research, and “Youth and the Environment in Southeast Asia.” Beyond the learning guides and tools, Tom has worked alongside seven communities to shape their own development plans, ensuring their visions and voices take center stage.
“Tom Weerachat has been pivotal in advancing the GAT initiative and strengthening grassroots leadership. His humility, passion, and genuine partnership built trust, guided the Yala Swamp Community Plan, and empowered community-led research. Beyond technical support, he connected us to global networks and even ensured personal safety during threats, showing unwavering solidarity. With his new role as IAP’s Deputy Director, we know his impact will undoubtedly expand. To us, Tom is more than a partner. He has become a trusted referee and part of our CIAG-K family. We are deeply grateful for his lasting contributions and pray for his continued blessings,” Chris Owalla, Executive Director of Community Initiative Action Group Kenya (CIAG-K), also a member of the second cohort of the GAT initiative.
Tom’s leadership extends beyond IAP. He has collaborated with the Learning Lab on Participatory Action Research hosted by the Bernstein Institute for Human Rights at NYU School of Law, supported grassroots movements through the Community-Led Research Project with ESCR-Net (International Network for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights), and contributed to the Learning Agenda on Legal Empowerment convened by Namati and the Grassroots Justice Network.
“Since 2021, Tom has been an invaluable advisor to the learning agenda for legal empowerment — helping grassroots practitioners worldwide learn from one another and use participatory action research to address some of our movement’s toughest challenges. He envisioned the learning agenda as a ‘brave and safe space for learning,’ and through his mentorship, commitment to building knowledge from the ground up, and his extraordinary gift for community-building, he made that vision a reality. All of us at Namati and the Grassroots Justice Network are deeply grateful for his generosity, kindness, and bold vision. Tom’s leadership in our movement is unparalleled,” Poorvi Chitalkar, Senior Manager, Learning Agenda at Namati.
Before joining IAP, Tom served as a Program Coordinator at EarthRights International, where he coordinated the Mekong school alumni network in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and trained activists and community leaders to support their environmental and human rights advocacy campaigns.
“I’m truly honored to take on the role of Deputy Director at IAP. Over the years, working alongside amazing communities, partners, and this incredible team has been one of the most rewarding experiences. I’m grateful for every lesson learned, every challenge overcome, and every win we celebrated together. Stepping into this new role is such a wonderful opportunity to deepen and grow the relationships and collaborations we’ve built with powerful community leaders and partners around the world. There’s so much we can achieve together in supporting communities to shape the decisions that affect their lives and lead development where they live, work, and play. I’m grateful to be part of this journey,” said Tom Weerachat.
IAP remains committed to working in solidarity with communities, civil society, and social movements to inform and amplify their campaigns, broaden access to information, and create spaces within and outside dominant power systems for communities to lead the development decisions that affect their lives and environment.
“We are excited to welcome Tom into this new role at IAP as we continue to prioritize community voices to realize community-led development and development justice everywhere,” said Ryan Schlief.
