The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries. It is home to 2.5 billion people, and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. 33 of our members are small states, including many island nations. Our member governments have agreed to shared goals like development, democracy and peace. Our values and principles are expressed in the Commonwealth Charter.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is the intergovernmental organisation that supports member countries to achieve the Commonwealth’s aims of development, democracy and peace. It publishes authoritative, evidence-based research and knowledge products for policymakers, academics, professionals and wider publics across the world. Our areas of focus and expertise include small and developing states; environment and climate change; democracy, law and government; and social issues concerning young people, gender, health and education.

Principles for Local Government Legislation

Graham Sansom

This study is designed to help local government practitioners in Pacific island countries review and strengthen their existing legislative and regulatory frameworks. It identifies best practice, examines case studies of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Samoa, and presents ten key principles for effective legislation.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290890
  • Publication Date: Apr 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Migration and Development

Wonderful Hope Khonje

This book contextualises migration and development to the peculiar vulnerabilities of small states. It includes case studies from small states in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific that will help policy-makers to embrace migration as an inevitable phenomenon and devise policies that will maximise the benefits from migration at a minimal cost.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291330
  • Publication Date: Feb 2015
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Assessment of Debt Restructuring Operations in Commonwealth Small States

Michele Robinson

This paper highlights the concerns of Commonwealth small states about unsustainable debt burdens and the emerging challenges to their overall debt sustainability. It offers key lessons learned from Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, and Seychelles.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291354
  • Publication Date: May 2015
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Uganda General Elections, 18 February 2016

The report of the Commonwealth Observer Group for Uganda presidential election held on 18 February 2016, chaired by former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo. The group concluded that Uganda has fallen well short of meeting many of the key democratic benchmarks for the conduct of credible elections.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291538
  • Publication Date: Jul 2016
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Capture Fisheries

This third volume in the Commonwealth Blue Economy Series, Capture Fisheries, describes challenges in managing capture fisheries, and strategies and activities that could be undertaken by SIDS to make improvements. Includes case studies illustrating positive actions that have been taken by SIDS and their outcomes.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291545
  • Publication Date: Sep 2016
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A Sustainable Future for Small States

Resina Katafono

This publication reviews seven sectors that can catalyse economic development in the Commonwealth Pacific: political governance; development effectiveness and co-ordination; oceans governance; non-communicable diseases; ICT and connectivity; migration and climate change; and energy, and offers policy solutions to address these challenges.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291637
  • Publication Date: Sep 2017
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Youth Mainstreaming in Development Planning

A compendium of concepts to initiate dialogue, and mobilise consensus around visions and strategies for young people. Includes tools and techniques that support initiatives to mainstream youth rights, voices and capabilities across government and other institutions. It is aimed policy-makers and practitioners engaged in development planning.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291644
  • Publication Date: Jul 2017
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Enhancing the Contribution of Sport to the Sustainable Development Goals

Iain Lindsey

This guide builds on the work of previous Commonwealth publications analysing the role of sport in achieving sustainable development. Aimed at governmental policy-makers and other stakeholders, it provides evidenced and balanced policy options supporting the effective contribution of sport towards six prioritised Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291651
  • Publication Date: Apr 2017
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Commonwealth Legislative Drafting Manual

Roger Rose

The Commonwealth Legislative Drafting Manual guides the practitioner step by step through the various things he or she needs to know. It also contains a series of appendices relating to the procedure for the preparation of legislation, the contents of drafting instructions, and some hints to the beginner on the best approaches to the task.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291699
  • Publication Date: Nov 2017
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Emerging Trade Issues for Small Developing Countries

Teddy Y. Soobramanien

This publication seeks to help Commonwealth developing countries adapt to emerging trade issues such as climate change, e-commerce, implementation of the SDGs, and the role of Micro, Small and Medium-sized enterprises and GVCs . It addresses systemic issues that impact on the participation in the multilateral trading system and WTO negotiations.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291729
  • Publication Date: Sep 2017
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Youth Work in the Commonwealth

Youth Work in the Commonwealth: A Growth Profession aims to help countries learn from good practices, and assess gaps in establishing youth work as a recognised profession in diverse contexts.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291736
  • Publication Date: Sep 2017
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Changing the Law

Changing the Law: A Practical Guide to Law Reform is designed to provide practical assistance to users seeking to deliver high standard law reform outcomes. Using examples and experience from around the Commonwealth and beyond, it guides users through each phase of a successful reform, from initiation to final implementation.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291743
  • Publication Date: Nov 2017
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Judicial Resource Book on Violence Against Women for Asia

Niaz A. Shah

The Judicial Resource Book on Violence Against Women for Asia deepens our understanding of the forms of VAWG and raises awareness of the role that the judiciary can play in tackling them. It can be used by judicial officers and other professionals to promote justice and fairness in the judicial process for women who have been victims of violence.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291750
  • Publication Date: Mar 2018
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Small States Economic Review and Basic Statistics, Volume 20

Small States: Economic Review and Basic Statistics is a flagship publication of the Commonwealth Secretariat highlighting the development indicators of small states and disseminating knowledge on their economic performance.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291774
  • Publication Date: Apr 2018
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A Handbook for Gender-Inclusive Elections in Commonwealth Africa

A Handbook for Gender-Inclusive Elections in Commonwealth Africa: Achieving 50:50 by 2030 reviews the systems, legislation and best practice that will need to be implemented and effectively monitored to get more women into politics and help to realise Sustainable Development Goal 5 – achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291781
  • Publication Date: Apr 2018
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Key Principles of Public Sector Reforms

Joan Nwasike

This book contains case studies from Cameroon, Ghana, Grenada, India, Kenya, Rwanda, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania and Trinidad and Tobago on the policy reforms, strategies and methodologies that support national priorities and greater policy coherence for sustained development and growth.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291811
  • Publication Date: Aug 2018
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