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. WFD works with parliaments, political parties, and civil society groups as well as on elections to help make political systems fairer and more inclusive, accountable and transparent.

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

Story

Sharing good practice between UK and Uganda through a women parliamentarians’ mentorship workshop

WFD hosted a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK) delegation and convened a women MPs mentorship workshop, in partnership with the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) and UN Women. The workshop – which targeted new women parliamentarians – explored effective committee work and impactful external communications.

Story

WFD’s Youth Cross-Party Platform brings together young leaders in Albania

Recently, WFD brought together youth leaders from the main political parties in Albania, to participate in a workshop to strengthen their leadership skills. Held in the region of Gjirokastër, in the south of the country, the event saw 17 youth leaders participate in the activities.

Multicoloured figures connected by lines

News

WFD announces three-year programme to boost parliaments' engagement with young people in the Middle East and North Africa.

On 12 August – International Youth Day – we are announcing a new three-year programme to boost engagement between parliaments and young people in Algeria, Morocco, and Lebanon.

Open Parliament Index score sheet of the public accountability indicator where Sierra Leone and Cape Verde are joint first followed by Ghana, Nigeria and Togo in the top five

Story

Sierra Leone’s Parliament jointly tops the 2022 open parliament index on public accountability in West Africa

WFD has been partnering with the Parliament of Sierra Leone to strengthen its capacity in different areas around the Open Government Parliament. The institution’s efforts to promote openness, accountability, and participation were recognised in the maiden Africa Open Parliament Index (OPI) report, as the institution ranked among the top in West Africa.

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