July 2025 marked the conclusion of Westminster Foundation for Democracy’s (WFD) programmes in Algeria, bringing to a close nearly a decade of collaboration, learning, and meaningful change. Since 2016, WFD has worked in close partnership with both chambers of the Algerian Parliament—the People’s National Assembly (APN) and the Council of the Nation—on initiatives aimed at supporting legislative effectiveness, transparency, and citizen engagement. Through a series of evolving programmes, WFD worked alongside parliamentary partners to strengthen institutional capacity, encourage inclusive practices, and respond to emerging needs in a rapidly changing context.

Over the course of the partnership, a number of collaborative initiatives contributed to institutional development. One notable example is our contribution to the design of Algeria’s first-ever parliamentary TV channel — a bold step toward institutional openness and public engagement.  

Some of our key achievements:

Legislative drafting support

Together with the Algerian Parliament we developed a series of legislative drafting guides and research papers to support training sessions for staff and MPs across both chambers, improving shared understanding of legislative procedures.

Strengthening the knowledge, skills and capacity of parliamentary staff and MPs

More than 200 parliamentary staff and MPs participated in WFD-supported trainings on topics such as legislative practice, public procurement, administration, communications, and citizen engagement—often delivered in partnership with local and regional institutions.

Digital communication reform

With input from WFD and local experts, the Council of the Nation launched a new institutional website in 2025 following a multi-year process of user research, strategy design, and internal capacity-building.

The new website marks a significant upgrade in clarity, transparency, and digital accessibility. Unlike the old version—which was difficult to navigate and lacked mobile compatibility—the new site features streamlined menus, multilingual access (Arabic, French, Tamazight), and clearly structured legislative content that is searchable and downloadable. It includes integrated multimedia tools such as live session streaming, audiovisual archives, and dynamic news feeds that enhance visibility and citizen understanding of parliamentary work. Built with a secure, mobile-responsive infrastructure, and managed internally via a custom Content Management System, the site empowers the Council’s communication team to independently maintain content and engage more proactively with the public—all while respecting institutional identity and control.

MP induction and gender-focused engagement

In collaboration with the parliamentary administration, WFD designed and delivered induction programmes for newly elected MPs, along with gender advocacy sessions and women’s roundtables, providing targeted spaces for orientation and collaboration with an emphasis on inclusive participation.

Public procurement and administrative tools

Internal processes were strengthened through workshops and peer exchanges focused on transparency and accountability in public procurement. Orientations for staff and MPs on a series of amendments to the public procurement law provided participants with the knowledge, skills and confidence to navigate changes in this complex legislation.

Civil society engagement tools

A manual and scoring tool were developed to support parliamentary teams in engaging more systematically with civil society organisations (CSOs) across the policy cycle.

Regional and international learning

Exchanges with peers in Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, and the UK provided comparative insights that informed local planning and encouraged institutional reflection.

Our local leadership

No reflection on WFD’s impact in Algeria would be complete without celebrating the remarkable leadership of Karima Kassi, our Country Director. Since the very beginning, Karima has been the driving force behind our work—navigating complex contexts with unwavering dedication, tireless energy, and a deep belief in the power of democratic change. Her ability to build trust across institutions, connect meaningfully with partners, and guide our programme through both opportunities and challenges has left a lasting legacy.

"We created space—for MPs to learn, staff to grow, and Parliament to open up in ways once thought unimaginable. Change didn’t always make headlines, but it mattered: sharper questions, better tools, and quiet shifts in mindset. The real success was trust—earned not in weeks, but over years of patience, persistence, and simply showing up.”

Karima Kassi, former Country Director, Algeria

Though WFD’s programmes in Algeria have now concluded, the relationships built and the tools shared will continue to shape democratic practice in the years ahead. We are deeply grateful to our Algerian partners—for their commitment, collaboration, and vision—and proud to have walked this journey together.