Strengthening democracy around the world | Westminster Foundation for Democracy

Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is the UK public body dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world. For more than 30 years we have actively helped democracies to grow stronger, so that freedom and prosperity can flourish. We help solve problems of democracy so that democracies can address challenges that people face around the world – from climate change to corruption.

Discover our strategy

Discover WFD at 30

Where we work

We operate directly in more than 30 countries and territories across the world.

What we do

Information about our programmes, research and policy.

Research

We produce research that aims to build an evidence base for and improve the quality of democracy support.

Resources

Our resources, including practical guides, reports, briefings and studies.

Events

Browse through the latest upcoming events, or access content from past events.

Who we are

Read about our history and values.

Themes we work on

Accountability and transparency

We are supporting parliaments to check how governments spend public money and assess the impact of legislation.

Elections

We support electoral integrity, by encouraging reforms that contribute to free and fair elections and organising election observation.

Environmental democracy

Our environmental democracy programmes help bring about the action needed to address climate change.

Inclusion

Our work on inclusion focuses on the political participation and leadership of young people, LGBT+ people, and persons with disabilities.

Openness and participation

We help to open up access to decision-making, from helping parliaments speak to citizens to advising on citizens' assemblies.

Women's political leadership

We support women leaders to fully and equally participate in decision-making, an essential step in bringing about better outcomes for everyone - including women and girls.

Latest

Orange illustrated figures of men and women moving forwards. The leader is holding a sign that says push forward to end violence against women and girls and another figure in the group is holding a sign that says #16Days

Commentary

Ending conflict-related violence against women and girls

Addressing conflict-related violence against women and girls requires intersectional gender and conflict analysis to tackle harmful gender norms, patriarchal culture, and structural inequalities between women and men that predate conflict.

Commentary

A tide of women is rising to exercise formal power – we must counter the violence against women in politics that seeks to push them back

Democracy support actors like WFD need to respond to violence against women in politics as radically as the women who challenge these societal limitations. We need to set a goal of elimination through the transformation of gendered power relations.

Story

Kenya, a pacesetter in political inclusion of persons with disability

After the two years of implementation, the Kenya Inclusive Political Parties (KIPP) programme has registered good buy in and goodwill from its partners. This has led to achievements in the promotion of persons with disability inclusion in Kenyan politics.

Story

Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) hosts a Finnish delegation on disability inclusion in Kenya

WFD hosted a Finnish delegation on a 4-day visit to Kenya informed by the progress and success of the implementation of a disability inclusion programme in the country.

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