WFD produces research that aims to build an evidence base for and improve the quality of democracy assistance. We also generate policy that contributes new tools for democracy support, as well as guides for parliaments, civil society and democracy support practitioners.
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An audience member reads WFD research on access to health services in Sri Lanka,
Browse our archive of resources below.
This report examines how states that are committed to strengthening democracy engage with authoritarian states – and how this can strengthen authoritarianism. It outlines how pro-democracy governments can better engage with authoritarian states to avoid doing democratic harm and ultimately strengthen democracy around the world.
Under the EU Media Dialogue programme, WFD delivered a campaign against the use of hate speech in Kyrgyzstani elections. In the run up to the November 2021 parliamentary elections, WFD targeted political parties, candidates, activists, and the media, to raise awareness of the concept of hate speech, the legal implications of its use, and positive measures that could be taken to prevent or avoid it. Political parties demonstrated their agreement with the aims of the campaign, when they included points discussed at WFD activities in the cross-party memorandum on holding elections within the law.
As the COVID-19 pandemic is persisting and causes many health and economic problems across the world, national governments have taken measures to face the consequences by allocating additional resources, especially in the healthcare systems. Albania, despite its fragile health care system, has responded by adapting the state health budget to meet the needs of the citizens and to better address the pandemic.
Disability inclusion promotes democracy. To promote a consistent approach to inclusion of persons with disabilities in political party activities in Kenya, a document containing minimum standards on disability inclusion has been developed. This is through a WFD and Demo Finland facilitated a participatory working session with representatives from disability rights civil society organizations, disabled persons organizations, and political parties. These representatives have identified and brainstormed on the critical aspects/domains that political parties should focus on to improve their disability inclusion efforts.
Albania is one of the Western Balkans' countries most susceptible to changing climate trends. Alternating weather patterns have already been observed over the last 15 years and the main Albanian document on addressing them is the National Strategy for Climate Change (NSCC) and respective Plans approved by the Albanian Government in July 2019.
This template provides resources to facilitate the tasks of election observers in a way that contributes to preparing sound and thoroughly integrated reports on election monitoring from a gender perspective. The template is in English and Arabic.
Sunset clauses set an expiration date on a particular law or set of provisions. The expiration is either automatic or subject to a positive or negative authorisation by the legislature.
At the invitation of Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), WFD's Thematic Election Expert Observation Mission (TEEOM) observed the 4 December 2021 presidential election of The Gambia from 31 October 2021. The mission assessed participation of women and inclusivity more broadly based on relevant regional and international standards for elections. It also assessed the role of media and social media in the election.
Higher levels of political participation have been linked to lower levels of corruption across the
world. This policy brief will explore this relationship in more detail.
To support Jordan’s political reform process and help the country’s political decision-making be more open and inclusive, Westminster Foundation for Democracy has been working as part of a consortium of organisations to implement the ‘EU Support to Jordanian Democratic Institutions and Development’ (EU-JDID) programme since 2017.
This policy paper examines how political party strengthening contributes to democracy promotion and identifies where these approaches work best. The evidence suggests that the sister-party model – a model centred on relationships between parties with similar ideological positions – has value, but that it would be more effective if it were deployed more strategically.
We set out to find out what causes women to choose a career in the civil society sector rather than in politics. Is politics preventing women from finding the right balance between public and private life? Does the violence against women in politics drive women away from the political sphere?
A new report by Dr Tom Caygill analyses the frequency and the outcomes of PLS that has taken place in the UK Parliament in order to provide an insight into how this form of scrutiny is being undertaken.
Young people in Montenegro are disappointed and have lost trust in political parties, a new study commissioned by WFD shows. What is more, young people still show very little interest in the political scene in Montenegro.
