Forum of Federations
The Forum of Federations is an international non-governmental organization that develops and shares comparative expertise on federal and multilevel governance. It serves ten partner governments and operates programs in 20+ countries through advisory services, training, conferences, and a knowledge library of 1,000+ research documents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Forum of Federations does
The Forum of Federations is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1999 by the Government of Canada and headquartered in Ottawa. It operates as a 'think-and-do' organization specializing in federal and multilevel governance, providing comparative expertise, advisory services, training programs, and international conferences to governments, policymakers, researchers, and civil society leaders. The organization serves ten partner governments (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Switzerland) represented on its Strategic Council and Board of Directors, and implements programs across more than 20 federal and devolved countries through 12 field offices in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.
The Forum's core deliverable is its comparative methodology — the 'Learning from Each Other' approach — operationalized through Thematic Resource Teams comprising senior advisors, board members, consultants, and field staff. Its product surface includes a Knowledge Hub with over 1,000 research documents, books and policy briefs, the ForumFedCast podcast, online courses, the ForumFed Blog, and a video library, delivered alongside Thematic Programs (sectoral issues such as fiscal federalism and healthcare; crosscutting issues like climate change and gender equality; and systems issues including constitutions and intergovernmental relations) and Country/Regional Programs that provide demand-led governance reform support.
The business model is non-commercial: the Forum is funded through recurring contributions from ten partner governments and project-based funding from international development organizations and donor agencies including Global Affairs Canada, German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Swiss Development Cooperation, the World Bank, the European Union, and UN Women. It does not sell commercial products or services, and pricing is not publicly disclosed. Its GTM motion is event-driven (international conferences, workshops, training) combined with community-led knowledge dissemination through its global expert network.
Forum of Federations firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forum of Federations
- Legal name
- Forum of Federations
- Website
- https://forumfed.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Forum of Federations is an international non-governmental organization that develops and shares comparative expertise on federal and multilevel governance. It serves ten partner governments and operates programs in 20+ countries through advisory services, training, conferences, and a knowledge library of 1,000+ research documents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forum of Federations industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Governance Consulting and Capacity Building
- NAICS
- Business Associations (81391), Business Associations (813910), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Government & Public Sector Congress & Summit Planning (THAHACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH), Finance, Economics & Public Administration Congresses (THAHAJAL), Partner, Channel & Alliance Summits (THAHAMAC)
Keywords
Where Forum of Federations is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices12 records
Markets served
Forum of Federations business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Partner Contributions: Ten partner countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Switzerland) have signed agreements with the Forum and are represented on the Forum's Strategic Council, supporting activities and providing expertise.
- Project Funding: Funding from international development organizations and governments including Global Affairs Canada, German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Swiss Development Cooperation, Netherlands Ministry for Trade and Development Cooperation, UK Department for International Development, Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs, Denmark Ministry of Foreign Affairs, World Bank, European Union, and UN Women.
- Training and Capacity Building Programs: The Forum provides training programs and capacity development services to governments and institutions in federal and multilevel governance countries.
- Knowledge Products and Publications: The Forum publishes books, research reports, policy briefs, and maintains an online library of over 1,000 research documents on federalism and governance topics.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Forum of Federations product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forum of Federations is an international non-governmental organization that operates as a "think-and-do" organization specializing in federal and multilevel governance. It provides comparative expertise, advisory services, training programs, research publications, and capacity-building support to governments, policymakers, and civil society in established and emerging federal and devolved countries, delivered through Thematic Programs and Country/Regional Programs alongside a global online Knowledge Hub.
Product overview
The Forum of Federations is an international non-governmental organization that operates as a 'think-and-do' organization specializing in federal and multilevel governance. The organization offers a unified platform combining knowledge products and programs, including a comprehensive online Knowledge Hub with over 1,000 research documents, Publications (books, reports, and policy briefs), ForumFedCast (podcast), Our Courses (e-learning), ForumFed Blog, and ForumFed Videos. These knowledge resources are delivered through two complementary program structures: Thematic Programs (covering sectoral issues like fiscal federalism and health care, crosscutting issues like climate change and gender equality, and systems issues like intergovernmental relations) and Country/Regional Programs (providing demand-led governance support to established and emerging federal countries).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Thematic Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- 168 learning activities conducted in 2021-2022
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Forum of Federations
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Forum of Federations technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Forum of Federations partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and knowledge.
- Government of PakistancorePakistan became a partner of the Forum in 2012, reflecting Pakistan's commitment to federalism following the 18th Constitutional Amendment. The Forum has fostered debate on federalism and provided platforms for learning from international best practices.
- Government of BrazilcoreBrazil was the first South American country to become a partner country of the Forum in 2008 and in 2014 became a full paying member. The Forum has implemented over 50 projects with different Brazilian partners at all three levels of government, including ministries, agencies, Congress, municipal associations, public banks, and universities.
- Government of GermanycoreGermany joined the Forum in October 2007 with the Federal Ministry of the Interior as official liaison partner. German experts and practitioners have participated in Forum projects across the globe, contributing German federalism experience.
- Government of EthiopiacoreEthiopia became the eighth partner country of the Forum in December 2006. The Forum has worked with Ethiopian partners since 2003 on initiatives including fiscal federalism, intergovernmental relations, conflict management, and academic development.
- Government of AustraliacoreAustralia has been a Forum partner country since 2006, participating in Forum programs from inception with Australian experts contributing to Forum events worldwide. Australian Senior officials have been involved in key activities including international events, workshops, and providing training and technical advice about federalism.
- Government of IndiacoreIndia became a partner member of the Forum in 2005. Since then, twenty-seven Indian experts have been deployed by the Forum to various countries, and over 90 events, projects and contributions have taken place through collaboration.
- Government of NigeriacoreNigeria was the first country to become a partner country of the Forum at the beginning of the internationalization process in early 2005. The Forum has been working in Nigeria since 2000, helping create the Nigerian Governors' Forum.
- Government of SwitzerlandcoreSwitzerland was one of the first countries to join Canada in supporting the Forum since its founding in 1999. Starting in 2002, the Forum has organized learning events in Switzerland to inform debates on Swiss federalism policy.
- Government of MexicocoreThe Forum has been working in Mexico since 2000, approached by President-elect Vicente Fox's transition team to organize workshops on comparative intergovernmental relations. Over 40 activities have been organized in Mexico.
- Government of CanadacoreCanada provided the impetus for the establishment of the Forum with the inaugural International Conference on Federalism in 1999. The Forum is based in Ottawa and has partnered with various Canadian federal and provincial government departments.
- Westminster Foundation for DemocracystrategicUK-based organization working on democratic governance providing support for Forum activities in the Philippines, particularly Bangsamoro region.
- Local Public Sector AllianceknowledgeInternational network focused on local public sector research and reform, providing knowledge partnership for Forum programs.
- Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA)knowledgeBrazilian research institute where the Forum's Brazil office is housed, providing academic expertise and hosting Forum activities.
- Centre on Governance, University of OttawaknowledgeAcademic partner at the Forum's headquarters location, collaborating on governance research and publications.
- International Association of Centers for Federal Studies (IACFS)knowledgeGlobal network of academic centers and researchers specializing in federal studies, co-organizing events and research with the Forum.
- Organization of American States (OAS)strategicRegional organization of American states providing partnership for Forum activities in the Americas.
- Ministry of Local Administration, Republic of YemenstrategicSigned MoU with the Forum to strengthen cooperation and support governance reforms in Yemen. The MoU reflects shared commitment to advancing governance reforms and supporting effective, inclusive, and responsive public institutions.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Forum of Federations competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Friedrich Ebert Stiftung: German political foundation active globally on democratic governance, federalism, and social policy. Closely comparable in its government-linked funding model and policy advisory work on federalism and decentralization.
- National Endowment for Democracy (NED): US-funded foundation supporting democratic institutions worldwide through grants and programming. Comparable as a government-funded organization deploying programmatic support to strengthen governance in transition countries.
- United Nations Development Programme – Democratic Governance: UN agency providing governance, peacebuilding, and institutional development support globally. Overlaps with the Forum on governance reform advisory work, particularly in post-conflict and devolution contexts, but at vastly greater scale.
- Konrad Adenauer Stiftung: German political foundation working internationally on democracy, rule of law, and decentralization. Comparable to the Forum in delivering governance advisory work funded by a national government and operating a global field office network.
- OECD – Directorate for Public Governance: OECD division producing comparative governance indicators, peer reviews, and policy advice on multi-level governance and decentralization. Directly comparable on the 'comparative methodology' angle but operating as a broader intergovernmental policy body.
Emerging players
- The Carter Center: US-based NGO supporting democratic elections, governance reform, and conflict resolution internationally. Comparable in deploying thematic expertise (governance, conflict) through country programs, though with a US rather than multi-government funding base.
- International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL): International NGO providing comparative expertise on civic space laws and governance. Adjacent to the Forum's mandate as a non-profit, government-supported knowledge organization producing comparative legal and policy analysis.
Direct peers
- Westminster Foundation for Democracy: UK government-funded foundation supporting democratic governance and parliamentary strengthening worldwide. The Forum is explicitly listed as a WFD partner in Philippines/Bangsamoro work, and the organizations co-deliver governance programming.
- International IDEA: Intergovernmental organization supporting democratic governance and constitutional design globally. Closely comparable to the Forum as an internationally funded, non-commercial advisory body working with governments on institutional reform and elections.
- Club of Madrid: Membership-based organization of former heads of state and government focused on democratic governance. Directly comparable in leveraging senior practitioner expertise to advise on constitutional and institutional reform in transition countries.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Forum of Federations social profiles
Digital presenceForum of Federations financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forum of Federations leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Forum of Federations funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Forum of Federations M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Forum of Federations
What does Forum of Federations do?
Forum of Federations is an international non-governmental organization that operates as a "think-and-do" organization specializing in federal and multilevel governance. It provides comparative expertise, advisory services, training programs, research publications, and capacity-building support to governments, policymakers, and civil society in established and emerging federal and devolved countries, delivered through Thematic Programs and Country/Regional Programs alongside a global online Knowledge Hub.
Is Forum of Federations a public or private company?
Forum of Federations is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Forum of Federations founded?
Forum of Federations was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Forum of Federations based?
Forum of Federations is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Forum of Federations make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Partner Contributions are the primary driver. The others are project Funding, training and Capacity Building Programs and knowledge Products and Publications.
Who are Forum of Federations's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, National Endowment for Democracy (NED), United Nations Development Programme – Democratic Governance, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and OECD – Directorate for Public Governance. Emerging players are The Carter Center and International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL). Direct peers are Westminster Foundation for Democracy, International IDEA and Club of Madrid.
Does Forum of Federations have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forum of Federations.
What industry is Forum of Federations in?
Forum of Federations's product category is Governance Consulting and Capacity Building. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAC, Government & Public Sector Congress & Summit Planning, with a secondary code of THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies). Its NAICS code is 81391 and its SIC code is 8600.