The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is a United Kingdom non-departmental public body set up to support democratic institutions overseas. It was established on 26 February 1992 and registered as a company limited by guarantee in the UK. It receives funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Former diplomat Anthony Smith has been CEO since August 2014.

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. By the 2000s, WFD became well known as an organisation with specialty in strengthening parliamentary capacity through their programmes. 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.

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.

Asia-Pacific (9)

  • Indonesia
  • Laos
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Nepal
  • Philippines (Bangsamoro)
  • Solomon Islands
  • Thailand
  • Sri Lanka

Latin America (1)

  • Venezuela

Middle East & North Africa (3)

  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Morocco

Sub-Saharan Africa (5)

  • Gambia
  • Kenya
  • Nigeria
  • Sierra Leone
  • Uganda

Europe & Central Asia (3)

  • Armenia
  • Georgia
  • Ukraine

Western Balkans (5)

  • Albania
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Montenegro
  • North Macedonia
  • Serbia

The following are countries where the WFD had previously established a programme and/or a country office but had since been closed down:

  • Algeria
  • Armenia
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Ghana
  • Kosovo
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Myanmar
  • Mozambique
  • Pakistan
  • Sudan
  • Tunisia
  • Uzbekistan

See also

  • National Endowment for Democracy, a similar organisation based in the United States
  • Electoral Reform Society, an organisation seeking improvement in UK democracy
  • Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, a similar organisation established by the UK government

References