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.

The White House and the World

Nancy Birdsall

The last few years have seen a steep decline in the perceived legitimacy of U.S. policies and values in the world. How will the next American president regain the country's power and influence so that it is capable of tackling the global challenges of the 21st century? T he White House and the World explores areas where changes in U.S. policies can conceivably improve the lives of the poor in developing countries, thereby not only protecting our own national security but also restoring America's credibility in the world. In selected essays, Center for Global Development fellows explore a range of topics such as trade policy, migration, foreign aid, and climate change and offer practical recommendations for effective change to the next president. Authors and topics include Michael Clemens on migration, Dennis de Tray on corruption, Kimberly Elliott on trade, Ruth Levine on health, Theodore Moran on private investment, Mead Over on HIV/AIDS, Stewart Patrick on fragile states, Steve Radelet on foreign assistance, Vijaya Ramachandran on development in Africa, and David Wheeler on climate change.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781933286242
  • Publication Date: Aug 2008
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5-7 Working Days

Africa's Private Sector

Vijaya Ramachandran

Why is business performance lagging in Africa? To provide answers, this volume focuses on the day-to-day problems that private sector managers and entrepreneurs there encounter. Through enterprise surveys conducted in several African countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, these businesspeople identify poor infrastructure—particularly the lack of a reliable source of power—as a huge constraint on private sector activity.Politics also plays a key role in limiting the success of African businesses. Many countries there have private sectors that are ethnically segmented or dominated by ethnic minorities or both. Segmented networks in already sparse economic environments limit competition, encourage an ambivalent attitude toward facilitating a good business environment, and constrain the growth of firms outside the dominant network. Consequently, Africa has yet to see the emergence of a broad-based business class. Africa's Private Sector identifies several solutions to address both the infrastructure and political economy constraints hampering business growth in Africa.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781933286280
  • Publication Date: Jan 2009
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5-7 Working Days

Performance Incentives for Global Health

Rena Eichler

This volume demonstrates how incentives can improve the delivery and use of health services in low- and middle-income countries. The authors describe the rationale for introducing incentives tied to achievement of specific health-related targets, and they provide clear guidance about designing, implementing, and evaluating programs that provide incentives to health care providers and patients. A set of case studies focuses on recent uses of incentives addressing a range of health conditions in diverse countries. In particular, these studies emphasize how explicit incentives can be used to strengthen weak health systems.The book will be of use to policymakers and program managers in both developing countries and the donor community interested in improving health outcomes through the strategic use of performance-based incentives.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781933286297
  • Publication Date: Apr 2009
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5-7 Working Days

Beyond Lending

Guillermo Perry

When he began this book in early 2008, Guillermo Perry argued that developing countries remained highly vulnerable to external risks such as commodity price declines, capital flow reversals, and natural disasters. The economic crisis that has since ensued confirmed Perry's analysis. It has also made his proposal more important than ever: multilateral development banks (MDBs) should move beyond lending to provide innovative risk-management tools for developing countries to manage volatility. The risk that MDBs will fall into complacency as the short-term demand for traditional loans increases during the crisis should not deter innovations to ensure long-term stability.Contents1. Causes and Consequences of High Volatility in Developing Countries2. The Role of Financial Insurance and Hedging3. Dealing with Liquidity Shocks and the Procyclicality of Private Capital Flows4. Dealing with Currency Risks5. Dealing with Commodity Price, Terms of Trade, and Output Risks6. Dealing with Natural Disaster Risks7. Why Multilateral Development Bank Practices Are So Far from Their Potential8. An Agenda Going Forward

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781933286327
  • Publication Date: May 2009
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5-7 Working Days

Combatting Corruption in the Commonwealth Caribbean

Roger Koranteng

Combatting Corruption in the Commonwealth Caribbean, has been published by the Commonwealth Secretariat to highlight the ways in which six Commonwealth Caribbean countries have made significant progress in combatting corruption. The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781848599970
  • Publication Date: Jun 2022
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

The CARIFORUM and Pacific ACP Economic Partnership Agreements

Christopher Stevens

A report on the CARIFORUM and Pacific ACP Economic Partnership Agreements that analyses the detailed implications for the economies of the countries involved of commitments signed or initialled, including an indication of the broad country and region-wide effects.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290005
  • Publication Date: Feb 2009
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Stop Vulture Fund Lawsuits

Devi Sookun

This handbook distils the key lessons on best practice in negotiating loan agreements, and responding to the activities of vulture funds - funds that buy up the debt of sovereign countries at a discount in the hope of making significant profit - for the benefit of all government officials who may have to deal with these issues.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290081
  • Publication Date: Jul 2010
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Without Prejudice

Meena Shivdas

CEDAW - the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women - is a powerful international human rights instrument that reflects a global determination to achieve gender equality. This book looks at the cultural and legal challenges relating to the implementation of CEDAW, and the individual approaches adopted.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290135
  • Publication Date: Jun 2010
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Fair Trade for Teachers

James Keevy

International teacher migration poses a wide range of challenges to the recognition and transferability of teacher qualifications across borders. This study aims to enhance recognition of teacher qualifications across borders and between the member countries of the Commonwealth.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290142
  • Publication Date: Feb 2010
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Commonwealth Teacher Qualifications Comparability Table

James Keevy

Includes the comparability tables that offer country-country analysis of primary and secondary teacher qualifications offered in 35 Commonwealth countries.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290159
  • Publication Date: Feb 2010
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Who Cares?

Marilyn Waring

At the centre of the HIV/AIDS response are the 12 million people who need care and treatment. Yet their carers are often invisible to the system that relies on them. Focusing on the carer directs assistance where it is most effective and most needed, will respect human rights, and will help achieve the millennium development goals in health.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290197
  • Publication Date: Oct 2011
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Implementing a National Export Strategy

Isaac Njoroge

This handbook explains how the Commonwealth Secretariat helps countries develop national export strategies with a clear purpose, strategies that are action-oriented, and which recognise the interrelationship between technological, economic, social, political and cultural aspects of society.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290210
  • Publication Date: Jul 2010
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

The Global Financial Crisis and Trade Prospects in Small States

Massimiliano Calì

This is the first study to look at the trade effects on small states of the current global slowdown. Export industries in these countries have been affected at least as much as those of other developing countries. The authors suggest a number of policy responses for governments of small states which may help to address the issues that arise.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290265
  • Publication Date: Jun 2010
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Transforming Society through the Extractive Industries

Daniel Dumas

Illustrated by case studies of good practice from across the Commonwealth, this book will help government decision-makers ensure that the extractive industries (dealing with the extraction of non-renewable natural resources - notably oil, gas and minerals) transform society for the better, while minimising the risk of instability and conflict.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290272
  • Publication Date: Oct 2010
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Integrating Sustainable Development into National Frameworks

Janet Strachan

This book brings policy-making for sustainable development into the mainstream of decision-making at all levels of governance and in all sectors. It builds on the 2005 internationally agreed 'Mauritius Strategy' which aims to implement the integration of sustainable development by small island developing states.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290340
  • Publication Date: May 2011
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

The Contract System of Employment for Senior Government Officials

Philip Osei

This publication reviews the effects of the reforms implemented under the new public management programme on the roles and conditions of service of permanent secretaries and directors in Belize, Guyana, Jamaica and St Lucia.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290463
  • Publication Date: May 2011
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days