Resources

Resources

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.
An woman sitting at a table reads WFD research on access to health services in Sri Lanka
Caption
An audience member reads WFD research on access to health services in Sri Lanka,
Browse our archive of resources below.
The front cover of the report which has the words how not to engage with authoritarian states in large letters above the names of the authors and the WFD and FCDO logos

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.

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Political Party Transparency in the Western Balkans
These case studies on political party transparency were written by members of political parties or persons affiliated to party think tanks and research institutes from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.
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Strengthening the role of Parliament in the Budget Process: the role of Parliamentary Budget Offices
This brief examines the role of the parliamentary budget office (PBO), how PBOs add value to the work of parliament’s oversight of the budget and standards for collaboration between the PBO and parliament.
| Briefing
Image of the front cover of the report
A Critical Review of Public Accounts Committees
As part of Westminster Foundation for Democracy’s (WFD) briefs on financial accountability, this brief examines the typical operating process of PACs in the Westminster tradition and four key challenges faced by PACs in effectively discharging their oversight role.
| Briefing
Image of the front cover of the report
Are Supreme Audit Institutions fit for purpose in the age of COVID-19 and beyond?
This brief focuses on the role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and whether they are fit for purpose in the age of COVID-19 and beyond.
| Briefing
cover of the budget policy brief
British Academy report: How to hold elections safely and democratically during the COVID-19 pandemic
Governments should consider innovative measures such as widely distributing polling stations to safeguard democratic processes during the Covid-19 pandemic. That is the key recommendation from the British Academy’s new briefing on elections, published on 19 August, which WFD colleagues and partners contributed to. 

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people queuing at a polling station
Gender-sensitive post-legislative scrutiny
The policy paper titled ‘Gender-sensitive post-legislative scrutiny’ examines the meeting point between post-legislative scrutiny and gender analysis.
| Briefing
cover of gender-sensitive post-legislative scrutiny resource
Gender-Sensitive Post-Legislative Scrutiny of general legislation
This case study examines how post-legislative scrutiny of gender (non-gender-specific) legislation can integrate a gender-informed approach.
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Parliament’s relationship to anti-corruption agencies: Evidence from Lithuania, Ukraine and Serbia
Despite the distinctive characteristics of the different countries, some common features of their subsequent transformations have a bearing on the degree and specifics of the corruption phenomenon across these and neighbouring countries, which makes them more comparable. This should betaken into consideration when analysing the attitude of parliaments toward anti-corruption agencies.
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The Role of Parliament in Public Debt Management: Weathering the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond
This brief examines the multifaceted role of parliament in the oversight of public debt and debt management. This brief was commissioned prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, when concerns were already being raised about rising public debt levels in developing countries.
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The Role of Parliament in Public Debt Management
It is clear is that there are significant risks associated with leaving governments to effectively manage public debt without proper oversight. Parliament needs to, among other things, set and modernize legal frameworks for debt management, properly examine and ratify loan agreements and oversee the riskiest generators of public debt—SOEs.
| Briefing
cover of the role of parliament in public debt management publication
The cost of parliamentary politics in Kenya
Members of Parliament (MPs) in Kenya are amongst the highest paid in the world relative to the size of the economy. This study looks at the cost of parliamentary politics in Kenya.
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Cost of politics in Kenya Front Cover Page
Environmental institutions
This report examinse the importance of the role of parliaments in the oversight of implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, and explores seven different models of environmental governance around the world, including examples from Canada, England, New Zealand and Slovakia. 
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cover of the environmental institutions report
Cost of youth emigration from Bosnia and Herzegovina - WFD research
Bosnia and Herzegovina is losing up to €21,000 per person that leaves the country, according to the new WFD research. Figures from 2018 show that 44,700 people left the country and according to OECD data, the favourite destinations for people from Bosnia and Herzegovina are Germany (54%), Slovenia (26%), and Austria  (9%).
| Study
Image of the front cover of the report
Political trust: The glue that keeps democracies together
This paper reviews existing research on political trust, explaining why it is important, what we know about it, and – perhaps most importantly – what we don’t. It argues that if practitioners are to foster greater levels of political trust, research into that phenomenon needs to become more innovative.
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Alienation from politics fuels emigration in Serbia - WFD survey
A new survey by WFD in Serbia shows a very high level of distrust among Serbian citizens in democratic processes in the country. 80% believe that voting at the elections can not change the situation in Serbia and 60% of the surveyed citizens do not trust any politician in the country. At the same time, more than 60% of respondents said they occasionally or more seriously consider leaving the country.
| Report
Building, street, bus