Chief Executive's introduction

WFD was established in 1992 during a period of profound geopolitical change and in recognition of the opportunity and responsibility that political leaders in our country had to support freedom around the world. That freedom would come from transforming political systems to ensure that leaders were held accountable, citizens were included in political decision making, and the rule of law was applied equally to all. 

More than thirty years later, political leaders again have both an opportunity and a responsibility to support further transformation of our political systems to build long-term democratic resilience. Countries around the world are facing another period of profound change, in three dimensions –geopolitical, technological and cultural. Alliances, partnerships and relationships are shifting as we tackle the huge policy challenges facing people and the planet. The capacities and risks of technologies appear to be increasing faster than our oversight of them. And the ways in which communities digest information, deliberate and take political decisions are changing, partly under the influence of those technologies.

WFD’s stakeholders and partners are navigating these changes every day. Our job is to understand their challenges, their perspectives and their ambitions, and to share the knowledge and expertise that they need to be successful. In return, we are learning how change happens in different contexts, what matters to people at community level, and how political leadership can make a real difference. Some highlights from the last year include supporting parliaments in the Western Balkans to strengthen scrutiny of executive action, working alongside leaders in the Bangsamoro region of the Philippines as they prepare for their first parliamentary elections, and helping the Verkhovna Rada in Ukraine expand citizen participation through new digital platforms. By sharing expertise and supporting local partners, WFD helps strengthen democratic leadership and institutions in ways that reflect the priorities of the communities they serve.

We also benefit from supporting what is probably the most important global public good, namely democracy. The wider and deeper the shared commitment to accountability, inclusion and rule of law, the better we are able to build trusted relationships and together address policy challenges and seize opportunities. 

Our work – through our programmes and policy engagement – strengthens democracy, and strong democracies make the world more secure, more stable, and more prosperous. We are profoundly grateful to our supporters, stakeholders, and staff for their contributions and we look forward to working with you in the coming year.

Anthony Smith

CEO

You can read an overview of the report on this page or download the full document, which is also available in large print.

Our impact in 2024-2025