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The Forum of Federations is a non-profit, international organization based in Ottawa, Canada. We engage in a wide range of programs of mutual cooperation designed to help develop best practices in countries with federal systems of government around the world.
The Forum has created an international network on federalism that brings together practitioners, scholars, and youth to learn and share ideas and experiences.
The Forum works with countries and organizations of the North and of the South, with established federal countries and newly-emerging federations. In addition, the Forum works with countries that are exploring the possibilities of a federal political system.
In pursuit of its mission, the Forum of Federations focuses on three core functions.
- To act as a 'clearing house' for information and resources on the practice of federalism:
- Making existing work on the practice of federalism accessible to practitioners;
- Facilitating and supporting networking among practitioners of federalism, as well as among academics and others with an interest in federalism;
- Developing information resources on the practice of federalism.
- To provide policy and program assistance to governments in established and emerging federations.
- To encourage future practitioners of federalism - youth - to develop an interest and expertise in federalism.
In its work, the Forum adheres to a number of principles. First, we operate within our particular niche: federalism. Our focus is on education, networking and information-sharing. We do not engage in advocacy for any political ideology. We provide a unique program focus that is both multilateral and comparative.
The Forum works primarily with practitioners, according equal standing and treatment to all levels and branches of federal structures. Our aim is to build on existing expertise and not to duplicate what academic centres for the study of federalism and other policy institutions are doing. We work in partnership with these institutions, not in competition with them.
The purpose of the Forum is to facilitate contacts among practitioners, academics, and institutions working on governance issues.
The Forum is a partnership organization, not a funding source. It gives priority to projects with diversified partnerships related to both funding and implementation. The Forum currently has nine partners.
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The Forum of Federations is an independent organization that was initiated in Canada and is supported by many countries and governments.
The Forum is concerned with the contribution federalism makes and can make to the maintenance and construction of democratic societies and governments. It pursues this goal by:
- Building international networks and fostering the exchange of experience on federal governance.
- Enhancing mutual learning and understanding among practitioners of federalism and
- Disseminating knowledge and technical advice of interest to existing federations and of benefit to countries seeking to introduce federal elements into their governance structures and constitutions
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Recent events:
Click here to find Programs held in Canada.
Learn. More than 40 per cent of the world's people live in countries with federal systems of government. Not all are the same. Some have unique solutions that others have copied. The Forum's online library lets you search more than 1400 of our studies, papers and articles on such topics.
Share. In the Global Dialogue section, explore these questions:
How do the constitutions of federal countries differ? How can they be revised? Which powers do the federal governments hold, and which ones are held by the constituent units? Practitioners of federalism can share their experiences and ideas at Forum events, in Federations magazine and in our other publications.
Network. What do the programs of the Forum contribute to the knowledge and practice of federalism? What do worldwide colleagues - or opposite numbers - say about new approaches to democratic federal governance?
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