Westminster Foundation for Democracy

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The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is a United Kingdom non-departmental public body set up to support democratic institutions overseas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="epd.eu">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It was established on 26 February 1992 and registered as a company limited by guarantee in the UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It receives funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Former diplomat Anthony Smith has been CEO since August 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Established on 26 February 1992, not long after the fall of the Berlin wall, WFD initially focused on providing support to political parties in Eastern European countries as they transition to democracy.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> By the 2000s, WFD became well known as an organisation with specialty in strengthening parliamentary capacity through their programmes.<ref name=":0" />

Objectives

WFD works to achieve sustainable political change in emerging democracies. Working with and through partner organisations, WFD seeks to strengthen the institutions of democracy through capacity building initiatives, technical support, and research projects that involve principally political parties (through the work of the UK political parties), parliaments, and the range of institutions that make up civil society, which includes non-governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions, and the free press, among others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="epd.eu"/>

Funding

In 2016, WFD had a budget of about £7 million, of which about £2.5 million was spent through the major UK political parties. WFD accounts are presented to the UK parliament annually.<ref name="economist-20070111">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="wfd-20170719">Template:Cite report</ref> In 2021, its budget had doubled to over £14 million which included funds received from the FCDO, the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), the European Union (EU), and others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Offices

WFD is headquartered in London. As of September 2021, WFD operates in 25 countries grouped into several regional groupings: Asia, Europe & Central Asia, Middle East & North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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