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Since 2007, WFD has been working in Uganda to support more inclusive, accountable, and transparent political systems and institutions – such as the Parliament of Uganda. So far, our programmes have supported, and continue to support, greater access and inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in formal and informal political processes. Additionally, they have facilitated scrutiny of government performance including progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy office in Skopje is established in 2008 and is the first WFD office open outside of the United Kingdom. Since its establishment, the office has worked with institutions, MPs, civil society, political parties, and journalists on advancing democracy, participation and effective public policies.
WFD has been collaborating with the Lebanese parliament since 2006 and has implemented more than 10 programmes over the last 15 years. Our work focuses on:
- Strengthening democratic practices within the parliament
- Enhancing financial and budgetary oversight
- Promoting women’s leadership
- Engaging young people in politics
- Strengthening parliamentary practices and accountability
- Supporting coalitions for reform
- Building linkages between the parliament and civil society
- Strengthening democratic practices within the parliament
- Enhancing financial and budgetary oversight
- Promoting women’s leadership
- Engaging young people in politics
- Strengthening parliamentary practices and accountability
- Supporting coalitions for reform
- Building linkages between the parliament and civil society
The 9 May 2018 elections brought the first change of government in Malaysia after 61 years. Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) led the orientation of the newly elected MPs and a round-table on future reforms chaired by the Speaker. The new government vowed to ‘Restore the Dignity of Parliament’ in its manifesto Promise 16 which had paved way for parliamentary reforms. In this context and drawing on internal and external expertise, WFD is working with the Malaysian parliament to embed institutional reforms.
These reforms aim to strengthen parliament at the centre of the country’s political life and make it relevant to the people it serves. The reform-focused interventions of WFD include enhancing capacity of the Parliamentary staff to support Members, providing technical support and guidance to the newly formed parliamentary committees and establishing accountable and inclusive parliamentary processes and systems.
The inclusion of women’s participation in politics is also an area that is continuing to develop in the country. As part of the broader Commonwealth Partnership for Development (CP4D) initiative, WFD is working with a local CSO to promote gender equality in Sabah and creating linkages with other CSOs as they develop advocacy strategies to raise awareness about gender issues. Low political representation of women, only 10% in the State Legislative Assembly, is a key driver of WFD’s work in Sabah.
These reforms aim to strengthen parliament at the centre of the country’s political life and make it relevant to the people it serves. The reform-focused interventions of WFD include enhancing capacity of the Parliamentary staff to support Members, providing technical support and guidance to the newly formed parliamentary committees and establishing accountable and inclusive parliamentary processes and systems.
The inclusion of women’s participation in politics is also an area that is continuing to develop in the country. As part of the broader Commonwealth Partnership for Development (CP4D) initiative, WFD is working with a local CSO to promote gender equality in Sabah and creating linkages with other CSOs as they develop advocacy strategies to raise awareness about gender issues. Low political representation of women, only 10% in the State Legislative Assembly, is a key driver of WFD’s work in Sabah.
WFD started working in the Maldives in July 2019. The Democratic Accountability and Stability Strengthening programme has two main focus areas; enhancing the operation of parliamentary committees to promote accountability and scrutiny of laws, and strengthening of parliamentary processes and procedures for the Parliament to become a more inclusive, gender-responsive and accountable institution. WFD’s work in the Maldives supports MPs, parliamentary staff and civil society organisations through exposure, technical assistance and capacity building opportunities.
This guide for parliamentary practice outlines an approach to assessing the implementation and the impact of climate and environmental legislation at national level.
Guide |
Through this programme, WFD is proud to have supported women MPs across the MENA region to enhance women’s political leadership, promote pathways for women to enter politics, and strengthen legislation to protect women and girls from violence and discrimination.
At the heart of the programme is our strong partnership with the Coalition of Women MPs from Arab Countries to Combat Violence against Women, which was established in January 2014 with the support of WFD. The Coalition unites women MPs from thirteen countries: Libya, Jordan, Sudan, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine, Iraq, Djibouti, Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Calling for change at the national and regional level, the Coalition is a network that helps MPs share experience on what works and unite for greater impact.
Working with the Coalition, the programme has been designed to support women parliamentarians in the region to become more effective advocates for the rights of women and girls through increased public debate, development of legislation offering better protection, improved parliamentary oversight, and stronger political leadership of women on a regional and national level.
At the heart of the programme is our strong partnership with the Coalition of Women MPs from Arab Countries to Combat Violence against Women, which was established in January 2014 with the support of WFD. The Coalition unites women MPs from thirteen countries: Libya, Jordan, Sudan, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine, Iraq, Djibouti, Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Calling for change at the national and regional level, the Coalition is a network that helps MPs share experience on what works and unite for greater impact.
Working with the Coalition, the programme has been designed to support women parliamentarians in the region to become more effective advocates for the rights of women and girls through increased public debate, development of legislation offering better protection, improved parliamentary oversight, and stronger political leadership of women on a regional and national level.
In response to the protests of the Arab Spring, the King of Morocco introduced a new constitution in 2011. The new constitution strengthens the parliament’s legislative role and establishes the principle of gender equality. Both Houses of Parliament – the House of Councillors (Upper House) and House of Representatives (Lower House) – have developed Strategic Plans, setting out a roadmap to enact their new powers as set out in the constitution. Since 2011, WFD has been working with the Parliament to deliver on these commitments.
In June 2021, WFD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a new five-year partnership agreement with the Morocco House of Representatives. The MoU provides the framework for continuing the collaboration between the two institutions and building on accomplishments from previous programmes. In December 2021, WFD held a hybrid meeting with the new speaker of the Upper House to discuss the key achievements between the two institutions and next steps.
In June 2021, WFD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a new five-year partnership agreement with the Morocco House of Representatives. The MoU provides the framework for continuing the collaboration between the two institutions and building on accomplishments from previous programmes. In December 2021, WFD held a hybrid meeting with the new speaker of the Upper House to discuss the key achievements between the two institutions and next steps.
In September 2018, WFD launched the three-year Western Balkans Democracy Initiative to strengthen political parties, parliamentary practice and democratic institutions in the region. The program in Montenegro worked on inclusion of the less represented groups (youth and marginalized women), with the aim to engage them more in the public and political life. After these initiatives, the program focused on the improvement of transparency and accountability policies. EU accession negotiations are the primary focus for institutions in Montenegro. Progress under Chapters 23 and 24 are central to the process, requiring the implementation of certain reforms before negotiations in other areas are taken forward.
Support for Montenegrin political parties with cross-party dialogue and to civil society organizations on transparency, accountability and effective policymaking will contribute to this reform agenda.
Support for Montenegrin political parties with cross-party dialogue and to civil society organizations on transparency, accountability and effective policymaking will contribute to this reform agenda.
The Western Balkans Democracy Initiative (WBDI) works with seven parliaments, public institutions, political parties and civil society organisations across five countries to improve representation of women, young people and persons with disability in political processes that impact on their lives. WBDI will support political parties to make their internal structures more democratic and responsive to marginalised groups policy needs.
WFD works to strengthen the UK-Nepal democratic and parliamentary relationship by sharing knowledge and best practices and exchanging experiences through bilateral as well as regional forums. WFD encourages and supports peer-to-peer learning between parliaments, MPs, and parliamentary staff, as well as one-on-one mentoring, meetings, national workshops, regional seminars, and international conferences. This work benefits and strengthens the functioning of parliamentary practitioners. WFD supports Nepal in implementing the reforms promised under the Nepalese Constitution, including the devolution process. These reforms are intended to bring about better services for citizens, a more equal distribution of resources among the regions, greater levels of gender equality, and the inclusion of all Nepalis and their representatives in decision-making processes.
In partnership with GIZ Ukraine, WFD helped establish a Financial and Economic Analysis Office (FEAO) in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (parliament) in 2015, in order to provide the parliament with accessible economic and financial information and help it monitor public spending.
Across the world, WFD works on accountability and transparency, elections, participation and openness, inclusion, environmental democracy, and women's political leadership.