Policy paper

Annex B: Summary of survey responses

Published 7 March 2024

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

Westminster Foundation for Democracy feedback survey: key findings

In October 2023 the PBR review team sent out a survey to selected FCDO stakeholders for their insights on WFD바카라 사이트™s engagement, collaboration, performance, and impact. A total of 30 responses were received. This survey forms a small part of the wider feedback the review team received through many hours of face-to-face and virtual interviews from a broad range of stakeholders (see Annex A).  

The review team recognises that by only surveying FCDO staff the sample data will not represent the full picture of WFD바카라 사이트™s activities, such as the programmes WFD commercially bid for and implement on behalf of other organisations. The profile of respondents indicates a bias towards bilateral programming, especially in Eastern Europe / Balkans, with an under-representation of Posts in Africa. What the survey data did tell us is how a group of WFD programmes that are funded through bilateral funds (from Post바카라 사이트™s budget), Grant-in-Aid (GiA), other UK government funding, and by third parties, are perceived by FCDO staff from both central teams and at Posts.

1. Overview of respondents

• of the 30 responses received, 20% were submitted by staff across 4 central FCDO Directorates, while the remaining 80% of responses came from staff located across 19 British embassies and high commissions

• we received responses from a diverse range of FCDO staff including Deputy High Commissioners, Head of Programmes, and Research Analysts

2. Familiarity and engagement

• the overwhelming majority of respondents were either 바카라 사이트˜very familiar바카라 사이트™ (57%) with, or had 바카라 사이트˜significant바카라 사이트™ (37%) awareness of, WFD activities at their Post or policy area (figure 1)

• respondents reported that monthly interactions with WFD staff were most common (43%) followed closely by weekly (40%) (figure 2). One respondent who selected 바카라 사이트˜other바카라 사이트™ commented that engagement was mostly based on programme needs and therefore different at certain points of the year. Over 40% of respondents who were 바카라 사이트˜very familiar바카라 사이트™ with WFD activities also reported having weekly contact with WFD staff

• respondents were asked about areas they engaged with WFD (figure 3). Selecting multiple areas was possible. 26 (87%) selected 바카라 사이트˜FCDO programming바카라 사이트™, while 15 (50%) said they engaged with WFD on 바카라 사이트˜Political engagement바카라 사이트™

• 83% felt their level of engagement with WFD was enough to support Post바카라 사이트™s objectives in country (figure 4)

Figure 1

How familiar are you with WFD activity?	Percentage of responders
Very familiar	57%
Sufficiently aware of their activity	37%
Would like to understand more	3%
Not at all	3%

Figure 2

How regularly do you or colleagues at Post engage with WFD?	Percentage of responders
Weekly	40%
Monthly	43%
Quarterly	7%
I don바카라 사이트™t know	3%
Other	7%

Figure 3

What are the key areas on which you engage with WFD?	Percentage of responders
Strategic thinking/policy development	10%
FCDO programming	26%
Non-FCDO programming	5%
Political engagement	15%
Events	14%
Other	3%

Figure 4

Do you feel that the level of engagement between Post and WFD has been sufficient to contribute to your objectives in country?	Percentage of responders
Yes	83%
No	17%

3. Programme funding

In response to a question on respondent바카라 사이트™s awareness of WFD programmes, respondents listed a range of FCDO, UK government and third-party funded programmes, including:

• [14%] Central FCDO Funding (GiA)
• [17%] Bilateral programme budget from Posts
• [43%] Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF)
• [7%] Good Governance Fund (GGF)
• [7%] Global Equality Project (GEP)
• [7%] UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT)
• [2%] European Union
• [2%] Canadian 바카라 사이트

4. Strategic alignment

• respondents were asked their views on the extent to which the WFD programmes they were aware of aligned to FCDO바카라 사이트™s objectives in the country or region where it operated

• over half (57%) believed WFD programmes aligned with FCDO바카라 사이트™s objectives to a 바카라 사이트˜great extent바카라 사이트™, while 30% answered 바카라 사이트˜to some extent바카라 사이트™ (figure 5)

• respondents who stated 바카라 사이트˜to a great extent바카라 사이트™ provided additional comments around programmes being designed with FCDO wider objectives in mind, and some Posts programmes were designed to directly align with Country Business Plans

• respondents who stated 바카라 사이트˜to some extent바카라 사이트™ commented on the need for WFD to take a more 바카라 사이트˜innovative바카라 사이트™ approach to programming and focus more strategic alignment as they were 바카라 사이트˜still adapting to FCDO바카라 사이트™s increasing focus on building democratic resilience to state threats바카라 사이트™

Figure 5

To what extent do (or did) the programme바카라 사이트™s objectives align with the FCDO바카라 사이트™s objectives in this country or region?	Percentage of responders
To a great extent	57%
To some extent	30%
To a limited extent	7%
Not at all	0%
I바카라 사이트™m not sure	3%
Not applicable	3%

5. WFD바카라 사이트™s impact

A wide range of comments were offered, both positive and negative on the question of the impact of WFD바카라 사이트™s activities (figure 6).  Some specific feedback included:

• the research data from WFD helped design a new programme for Post
• respondent mentioned an EU Country Report which praised a WFD programme바카라 사이트™s work to bring women MPs, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and other marginalised groups in closer cooperation with relevant civil society organisations
• a programme learning report showcased evidence progress in the delivery of outcomes related to under-represented groups and parliamentary scrutiny
• WFD바카라 사이트™s work was mentioned in Parliament and in some publications from other NGOs, showing wider awareness
• WFD activities have achieved good things in niche areas where there are no other partners
• the local context where a programme operates matters. The WFD office should design and be more agile to the changing circumstances in country
• there is low evidence that support given to select committees and women political representatives contributed to long-term accountability and inclusion

Figure 6

In your view, how impactful have WFD activities (eg programming) been in country?	Percentage of responders
Very	17%
Somewhat	47%
Partially	23%
Not at all	3%
Too soon to tell (programme still live)	10%

6. Future plans

• in response to a question on potentially partnering with WFD on democratic governance work the results were evenly split (figure 7)

• respondents who answered 바카라 사이트˜Yes바카라 사이트™ commented on WFD바카라 사이트™s trustworthiness and reliability as a delivery partner. Comments also focused on WFD바카라 사이트™s ability to adapt to feedback from Post

• comments from respondents who selected 바카라 사이트˜for some activity바카라 사이트™ reflected on WFD바카라 사이트™s high non-project attributable costs (NPAC) / overheads, the limited reporting, and the length of time it took for WFD to agree a programme바카라 사이트™s approach and outputs

• a third of respondents stated they have 바카라 사이트˜definite바카라 사이트™ plans to work with WFD, mostly commenting that these plans are already in place, with a further third saying they would 바카라 사이트˜probably바카라 사이트™ work with WFD again, mainly due to availability of budget and waiting to assess the effectiveness of current WFD programmes being delivered (figure 8)

• only 2 comments were provided by the third of respondents who selected 바카라 사이트˜it depends/unsure바카라 사이트™. These focused on availability of future CSSF budget, and doubts on what WFD can achieve given the political contextual constraints in their country

Figure 7

Would you consider WFD as a delivery partner for your democratic governance programming?	Percentage of responders
Yes	46%
For some activity	47%
No	7%

Figure 8

Does your Post have plans to carry out future activities with WFS?	Percentage of responders
Definitely: plans in development	33%
Probably: but no firm plans	30%
It depends/unsure	37%