Westminster Foundation for Democracy
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy is a United Kingdom non-departmental public body set up to support democratic institutions overseas. It was established in March 1992 and registered as a company limited by guarantee. It receives funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. The current chair of the organisation is Richard Graham MP and the current chief executive is Anthony Smith CMG.
WFD works to achieve sustainable political change in emerging democracies. Working with and through partner organisations, the Foundation seeks to strengthen the institutions of democracy, principally political parties, parliaments and the range of institutions that make up civil society – non-governmental organisations, trade unions and free media, among others.
WFD works in 34 countries.
In 2016 WFD had a budget of about £7 million, of which about £2.5 million was spent through the major UK political parties. The WFD accounts are presented to the UK parliament annually.
