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.

A Guide to Graduating from Least Developed Country Status

Jodie Keane

This publication provides tools to analyse the trade-related effects of tariff preference and how to integrate private sector consultations and survey methods to take in the perspectives of lead firms and buyers. Essential reading for policy-makers and development partners to support LDCs to adapt to the challenges arising from graduation.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291835
  • Publication Date: Dec 2018
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Gender Equality in the Commonwealth

This report documents progress made by the Commonwealth's 53 member countries in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. It records performances on available indicators covering four themes: women in leadership, women's economic empowerment, ending violence against women and girls and gender and climate change.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291842
  • Publication Date: Mar 2019
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Quantifying the Barriers to Services Trade in the Commonwealth

Quantifying the Barriers to Services Trade in the Commonwealth focuses on addressing policy barriers within services sectors in Kenya and Rwanda, including commercial banking, distribution and road transportation, which are key enablers of trade.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291859
  • Publication Date: Feb 2019
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Commonwealth Economic Development Report 2019

This first volume of the Commonwealth Economic Development Report reviews macroeconomic developments across the Commonwealth, highlighting key issues through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals. It further lays out the appropriate actions Commonwealth member countries can take to arrest development challenges.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291934
  • Publication Date: May 2021
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Trade, Gender, Climate

This book offers new analysis of gender issues in the trade and climate arenas. It informs the development of strategies to support national governments in mainstreaming gender issues within trade and climate, which is critical to the post-2030 development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291958
  • Publication Date: Aug 2020
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Environmental, Social and Economic Development Provisions in Investment Contracts

Motoko Aizawa

This book provides detailed guidance for government drafters and reviewers of investment contracts in the Commonwealth to achieve fairness and balance in investment relationships with respect to environmental, social and economic development matters.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291965
  • Publication Date: Mar 2021
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Education for Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States

Matthew Hiebert

This study analyses good practices and gaps in education for sustainable development (ESD) implementation in ten small island states vulnerable to climate change. It provides practical and realistic recommendations on how ESD may be better integrated in education policy and strategy and delivered more comprehensively.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290906
  • Publication Date: Feb 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Anticipatory Social Protection

Marilyn Waring

This publication will help policy-makers and development practitioners to make informed decisions about programme design and delivery so that beneficiaries' access to and participation in social protection mechanisms are fully realised.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290951
  • Publication Date: Oct 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Assessing Aid for Trade

Dirk Willem te Velde

Aid for Trade has been an integral part of ODA since the WTO 2005 Ministerial. This volume of 16 papers provides a comprehensive review of the AfT initiative, examining effectiveness, current issues and future directions including an alternative way to improve trade for developing countries from Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stigliz.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291064
  • Publication Date: Nov 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

The Impact of Women's Political Leadership on Democracy and Development

Farah Deeba Chowdhury

Describes barriers to women's political participation and explains why women's inclusion is crucial to democracy. It identifies strategies – electoral reform (New Zealand), party voluntary quotas (South Africa), and legislative quotas (Bangladesh and India) – that have helped to advance the participation of women in decision-making at all levels.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291095
  • Publication Date: Dec 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Swaziland National Elections, 20 September 2013

The report of the Commonwealth Observer Mission for the Swaziland National Elections, held 20 September 2013. The Mission was led by Dr Bakili Muluzi, former President of the Republic of Malawi, and was comprised of 5 eminent persons.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291118
  • Publication Date: Jan 2014
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Cameroon Legislative and Municipal Elections, 30 September 2013

The report of the Commonwealth Observer Mission for the Pakistan elections, held 11 May 2013. The Mission was led by Sir Douglas Kidd, former Speaker of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, and was comprised of 13 eminent persons.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291132
  • Publication Date: Jan 2014
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Istanbul Programme of Action for the LDCs (2011-2020)

LDC IV Monitor's first reports provide an independent assessment of the status of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (IPoA). They aim to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in the implementation of the IPoA leading towards the graduation of the least developed countries (LDCs).

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291200
  • Publication Date: Oct 2014
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Small States

This unique annual collection of key economic and statistical data on states with fewer than 5 million inhabitants is an essential reference for economists, planners and policy-makers working on issues of concern to small states. Contains 65 tables covering development indicators and an article focusing on the role of data and statistics.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291255
  • Publication Date: Jun 2014
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Building the Resilience of Small States

Denny Lewis-Bynoe

This study refines and expands the Commonwealth resilience framework, developed to measure the resilience of small states' economies to adverse economic shocks, natural disasters and extreme weather events. It proposes policy measures for building resilience, and the areas in which key development partners can provide support.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291286
  • Publication Date: Sep 2014
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Antigua and Barbuda General Election, 12 June 2014

The 2014 general election was conducted in a peaceful, credible and transparent manner. Voter turnout was high and the Mission commended the Electoral Commission on its management of the entire electoral process. The report makes a number of recommendations for consideration ahead of the next elections.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291316
  • Publication Date: Sep 2014
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days