Algeria

Between 2016 and 2025, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) collaborated 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.

July 2025 marks the conclusion of our programmes in Algeria. Since 2016, the programmes in the country have aimed to:

Support improvements in legislative drafting, oversight, and communication functions.

Encourage inclusive approaches, including greater participation of women and civil society.

Facilitate peer learning with regional and international counterparts.

Provide technical assistance on digital communication and modernisation efforts.

Foster conditions for greater institutional sustainability and local leadership.

Key achievements

Over the course of the partnership, a number of collaborative initiatives contributed to institutional development.

Legislative drafting support

A legislative drafting guide was jointly developed and used in training sessions for staff and MPs across both chambers, improving shared understanding of legislative procedures.

Capacity building for staff and MPs

More than 200 parliamentary staff and MPs participated in training on topics such as legislative practice, 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.

MP induction and gender-focused engagement

Induction programmes for newly elected MPs, along with gender advocacy sessions and women’s roundtables, provided 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 procurement.

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 programmes

Enhancing women’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

WFD supports women’s political participation and leadership so they can influence decision-making and bring about positive change. From 2012, WFD’s support to women MPs across the Middle East and North Africa has focused on effective leadership and encouraging women MPs to use their political influence for legislative change that eradicates discrimination against women and girls in the region.

WFD Algeria played a key role in facilitating women’s membership in the Coalition of Women MPs from Arab Countries to Combat Violence against Women. Additionally, the Coalition worked alongside the Algerian Parliament in 2024 to host sessions introducing the Declaration to MPs and parliamentary leaders.

Status

Completed

Supporting Open and Inclusive Democratic Institutions in Algeria (2019 - 2022)

The Supporting Open and Inclusive Democratic Institutions in Algeria programme supported the modernisation of parliamentary support services by working with members of parliament and trained staff in core functions of the parliament. Additionally, the programme worked with the parliament to improve its transparency and outreach, to increase the participation of civil society and citizens, and to strengthen gender and human rights mainstreaming.

Status

Completed

Engaging the Popular National Assembly (2017 – 2019)

The programme promoted greater transparency in the functioning of Algerian parliament and more effective citizen involvement. WFD worked with the National People’s Assembly (APN) (the lower house of parliament) and the Council of the Nation (the upper house), to exercise their policy and legislative roles more inclusively and effectively. This programme also helped to and strengthen relations between the Algerian and UK parliaments. 

Status

Completed

Latest news

Story

WFD in the Middle East and North Africa: Key achievements in 2024-2025

WFD's key achievements in MENA in 2024–2025 include strengthening legislative accountability and transparency, promoting democratic engagement in environmental and climate issues, and supporting the inclusion of young people in politics.

Story

Looking back at three successful years of WFD’s collaborative programme with the Algerian Parliament

Strong parliaments/legislatures are cornerstones of democracy. In 2019, WFD launched a programme that strengthened its partnership with the Algerian Parliament. Here is a summary of some of the programme’s outcomes after three years of successful implementation.

Contact us

United Kingdom

Info@wfd.org