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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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. 

| Report
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.
| Briefing
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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.
| Study
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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.
| Briefing
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.
| Study
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. 
| Report
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.
| Report
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Induction handbook for Senators
This induction handbook for Senators was produced by the WFD Uzbekistan programme
| Guide
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Independent oversight institutions - guide for parliaments
Aan introduction to independent oversight institutions and their relationship with parliament.

| Guide
cover of independent oversight institution guide for parliaments
Assessment report on e-parliament - WFD Uzbekistan (Russian)
The usage of information and communication technology by parliaments can enhance the transparency and accountability of institutions and legislative processes as well as provide anopportunity to engage citizens.
| Report
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Regulating referendums: An international survey of democracies
Direct democracy is in danger of being taken over by the wealthy. A survey of 34 countries’ regulation of referenda shows that worldwide, regulation is minimal and open to abuse. Countries everywhere need urgent reforms of their institutions of direct democracy to ensure that it is not taken over by the wealthy.
| Study
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