Written evidence submitted by the Westminster
Foundation for Democracy
KEY POINTS
— Westminster Foundation for Democracy
is the UK's primary organisation in supporting democracy development.
— The British Government has a strategic
interest in having a democracy institute based in Westminster.
— Countries such as Bangladesh welcome
support from the UK as historical links mean that political systems
are similar to the Westminster model.
— DFID invests significant funds in supporting
the improvement of governance around the world and its approach
is becoming more focused on providing support to political institutions
and processes. The Westminster Foundation for Democracy is a natural
partner. A strategic partnership would benefit the development
of this work.
WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION
FOR DEMOCRACY
Introduction
Established in 1992, Westminster Foundation
for Democracy (WFD) is an independent public body sponsored by
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, from which it receives an
annual grant. It is the UK's primary organisation in supporting
the development of democracy; specialising in parliamentary strengthening
and political party development.
Working with and through partner organisations,
we seek to strengthen the institutions of democracy, principally
political parties (through the work of the UK political parties),
parliaments and the range of institutions that make up civil society.
We believe that, for a democracy to flourish, all of these institutions
must be strong and sustainable.
WFD currently receives a core grant from the
FCO of £4.1 million and also attracts funds from the
Department for International Development (DfID), other FCO sources,
the British Council and others. WFD has moved from a predominantly
grant making body to one which designs, develops and implements
major parliamentary strengthening programmes around the world.
Established to support the consolidation of democratic practices
and institutions in the newly emerging democracies of Central
and the Middle East and Asia.
WFD is uniquely place to support the development
of political parties through party to party projects. This work
aims to build Eastern Europe WFD now also operates in Africa,
the capacity of like-minded parties to develop effective policy
based platforms, which give voters a real choice; to build party
structures and enable elected representatives to engage more effectively
with their electorates; and to learn new communications and campaigning
techniques. The political parties draw upon elected representatives,
party staff and members to provide training.
In 2008, the Foundation brought together a formal
consortium of partners, the Westminster Consortium for Parliaments
and Democracy, to deliver parliamentary strengthening programmes
in five countries over five years under DfID's Governance and
Transparency Fund. This is a £5 million programme working
in Mozambique, Uganda, Ukraine, Georgia and Lebanon.
Bangladesh
Westminster Foundation for Democracy are in
close discussion with both DfID and the government of Bangladesh
to deliver a six year £1.5 million parliamentary and
party support programme, although the duration and total funding
has not yet been finalised. The parliamentary and party support
programme is aimed at providing strategic and technical assistance
to the parliament of Bangladesh as part of a wider programme of
political modernisation. It will complement the USAID and UNDP
in—country parliamentary and party programmes. The WFD programme
will engage on party policy development; inter-parliamentary party
relations; strengthening the capacity of parliamentary staff and
the work of parliamentary committees.
Government support
WFD has earned a reputation as a successful
provider of long term, sustainable democracy strengthening programmes
around the world. We have built close and effective partnerships
with other UK and international agencies working in similar fields.
Although we are and independent body we work
closely with the FCO to ensure that there is good alignment between
our work and their strategic priorities in the area of governance.
A senior official at director level is nominated to oversee the
relationship and there is regular contact between our staff and
relevant FCO officials in the Human Rights, Governance and Democracy
Department.
We are also very keen to build a more strategic
relationship with DfID to support the Government's strategic goals
in promoting good governance and democracy around the world and
to strengthen the UK's commitments to international democracy
assistance. We believe it would be appropriate for DFID to identify
a similar level official to take forward our mutual aims.
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