Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD)

🌐 The world is facing a new debt crisis. How can stronger democratic governance help ensure sustainable, inclusive, and citizen oriented debt management? 📢 To explore the crucial intersection between public debt management and democratic governance, with a focus on transparency, accountability, and the role of civil society, WFD is launching a four-part webinar series, in collaboration with African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) and with contributions from other international and national organizations, parliaments, and institutions. The series aims to bring together public debt practitioners, democratic governance experts, and key stakeholders to share insights on how to manage debt in a manner that is sustainable, inclusive, and citizen oriented. Each webinar will delve into a specific aspect of public debt management, offering participants the opportunity to engage with experts and contribute to the broader discourse on effective governance and public financial management. 📅 The webinar series will launch on 25 September 2024. Find out more and register now ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/dkpBxuEP

Our guidelines for AI in parliaments cover ➡️ ethical principles ➡️ artificial general intelligence (AGI) ➡️ privacy ➡️ governance ➡️ system design ➡️ capacity building Developed by 22 experts from 16 countries, the guidelines consider ethical implications, transparency, accountability, and the operational integration of AI within the parliamentary workspace, among other things. They provide a framework that can be adapted according to context and needs. Explore the guidelines at https://lnkd.in/dZnNT3fY.

The high cost of politics often prevents potential candidates from participating. How can we address this issue? WFD's cost of politics report in Thailand provides some insights Read the report to learn more ⤵️

Calling all international policy professionals, practitioners, and delivery specialists! 📢 Are you working to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals? Evidence shows that democracy helps protect rights, reduces the risk of conflict, benefits international and domestic peace, and increases the likelihood of sustainable economic growth, and effective climate policies. Inclusive, accountable, effective democratic governance is a powerful tool. It can solve the problems that matter to people and address global challenges that affect us all. Watch out for our video series, which features partners we support sharing how they helped end violence against women, ensure accessible public services for people with disabilities, and increase earning opportunities for women. Here's a taster of what's in store from next week... #DemocracyCan #SDGs

How can we guarantee the participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in politics? To address gaps in its political culture, Kenya enacted the Political Parties Act of 2011. The act contains specific provisions meant to support PWDs and their participation in the promotion of more inclusive political discourse, political commitments, and public policymaking. With technical support from WFD, the Kenya Disability Parliamentary Association (KEDIPA) conducted a post-legislative scrutiny (PLS) of the act to evaluate its effectiveness in addressing the needs of PWDs after twelve years of implementation. The report provides insightful findings, which stakeholders can use to improve the promotion of the socioeconomic, cultural, and political rights of PWDs in Kenya. Learn more ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/dEpNqXE2

🚨Save the date: From 21-25 Oct, the Global Week of Legislative Openness unites parliaments and civil society organisations from around the world to share strategies, experiences, and tools for fostering open parliaments. Be part by registering your open parliament activities at https://lnkd.in/dUdEbz2h Check out how WFD and the Senate Liaison Office are enhancing transparency in Kenya with the new County Legislative Tracker (CLT). The platform empowers citizens to monitor legislative processes across all 47 counties. Dive into the full story ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/dhB4f2nY #GLOW24 #OpenParl24

🚨 Exciting opportunity: We are hiring a Programme Manager in North Macedonia (maternity leave cover) Are you passionate about driving positive change and strengthening democracy? We are seeking you to join our team in Skopje under our Western Balkans programme. Join us in our mission to foster and strengthen democracy in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans region! 📅 Closing date: 6 September 2024 🔗 Find more details at

Fighting corruption through democratic means leads to sustainable results. Have you read WFD’s, Franklin De Vrieze, and NDI's, Kristen Sample, blog that highlights the importance of involving parliamentarians to promote integrity and combat corruption? Check it out ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/dCpXB5qC

Did you know, the average expenditure for candidates aiming to enter politics in Thailand was around THB 300,000 baht (US$8,517) according to a representative from the election commission. Interestingly, the annual salary of member of legislature is THB 1.36 million (US$38,900), which means that cost to enter politics for a candidate in Thailand is around 22% of their annual salary Financial constraints can be a significant barrier for potential candidates who wish to engage in politics. This can make politics the preserve of the wealthy. Therefore, addressing the costly nature of politics is an important step for strengthening democracy. WFD conducted research highlighting the implication of costly nature of politics in Thailand and provided recommendations to address this issue. Read the full report ⬇️

Coming soon...our Democracy Success Stories series! 🎉 Did you know? Evidence shows that that democracy helps protect rights, reduces the risk of conflict, benefits international and domestic peace, and increases the likelihood of sustainable economic growth and effective social policies. In short: Inclusive, accountable, effective democratic governance is a powerful tool. It can solve the problems that matter to people and address global challenges that affect us all. Launching next week, our new video series features partners we support in Kenya, Nigeria, Malaysia, and Nepal. They tell the story of positive change that has resulted from strengthening democracy. Here's a taster of what's in store... Like, share, and comment to show the world what democracy can do 💪 #DemocracyCan