Short Abstract

What happens when organisations embrace a “learning first” approach in place of results-oriented programming? In this session, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) will share its “hypothesis testing” approach – a real-time learning framework ideally suited to working with uncertainty.

Description

Digital technologies are reshaping how societies communicate, govern, and engage with power – but democratic actors are often playing catch-up. The risks are clear: unchecked misinformation, exclusion by design, manipulative AI use, and civic spaces under pressure. But the opportunities are real too: stronger political inclusion, more responsive institutions, and new tools for accountability.

But realising these benefits is hard – especially when evidence of “what works” might be hard to find. So how do we learn what actually works? And how do we do that before scaling up unproven ideas?

This session explores what happens when a democracy support organisation embraces a “learning first” approach in place of traditional results-oriented programming. Join Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) to learn about hypothesis testing – a practical learning framework for generating real-time programme- and portfolio-level insights when working with high levels of uncertainty

WFD’s “Democratic Resilience in a Digital World” programme was a one-year pilot programme designed not to deliver big results, but to generate lessons that WFD – and the wider democracy community – could use. It included:

1. Testing digital tools and interventions through pilot projects in Kenya, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Sri Lanka;

2. Real-time learning through structured knowledge exchange and reflection between pilot projects and other organisational work on digital democracy;

3. Purposeful research to build WFD’s evidence base on promising digital approaches for democracy support.

We’ll share more about the key hypotheses and questions that underpinned the programme’s learning approach: Can digital tools support more inclusive governance? Can AI tools be used effectively to enhance public participation? What combination of human and AI inputs does it take to build a public interest Wiki on election candidates?

We’ll share how WFD’s hypothesis testing approach helped to surface honest insights to these questions in complex, fast-moving contexts – and what that means for others trying to deliver quality programming in the face of high levels of uncertainty. You’ll hear about what worked, what didn’t, and how intentional learning created space for more adaptive, resilient programming. We’ll also share details of how this approach helped to generate relevant portfolio-level learning to help inform the design of future programmes.

This session is especially relevant for:

• Programme managers and implementers seeking ways to generate practical and useful evidence of what’s working, what’s not, and why

• Grant managers seeking learning frameworks capable of delivering relevant programme- and portfolio-level insights

• Civic tech or democracy support innovators looking to better understand change

• Policymakers and donors looking for adaptive, evidence-driven approaches

• Researchers and technologists interested in co-creating with democracy actors

• Anyone seeking smarter, more humble ways to navigate digital transformation

Come ready to challenge assumptions, ask questions, and take away practical ideas to apply in your own work.

For more information, please see:

Alex Scales, Seyi Akiwowo, Adrienne Joy and Charlotte Egan, 2025. Using digital technology for democratic resilience, transformation and impact – learning paper. Westminster Foundation for Democracy. June 2025. Available online here: https://www.wfd.org/what-we-do/resources/using-digital-technology-democratic-resilience-transformation-and-impact