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.
Greenprint
Arvind Subramanian
Beleaguered by mutual recrimination between rich and poor countries, squeezed by the zero-sum arithmetic of a shrinking global carbon budget, and overtaken by shifts in economic and hence bargaining power between these countries, international cooperation on climate change has floundered. Given these three factors—which Arvind Subramanian and Aaditya Mattoo call the "narrative," "adding up," and "new world" problems—the wonder is not the current impasse; it is, rather, the belief that progress might be possible at all.In this book, the authors argue that any chance of progress must address each of these problems in a radically different way. First, the old narrative of recrimination must cede to a narrative based on recognition of common interests. Second, leaders must shift the focus away from emissions cuts to technology generation. Third, the old "cash-for-cuts" approach must be abandoned for one that requires contributions from all countries calibrated in magnitude and form to their current level of development and future prospects.
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN: 9781933286679
- Publication Date: Feb 2013
- Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days
Oil to Cash
Todd Moss
What should a country do if it suddenly discovers oil and gas? How should it spend the subsequent cash windfall? How can it protect against corruption? How can citizens truly benefit from national wealth? With many of the world's poorest and most fragile states suddenly joining the ranks of oil and gas producers, these are pressing policy questions. Oil to Cash explores one option that may help avoid the so-called resource curse: just give the money directly to citizens. A universal, transparent, and regular cash transfer would not only provide a concrete benefit to regular people, but would also create powerful incentives for citizens to hold their government accountable. Oil to Cash details how and where this idea could work and how policymakers can learn from the experiences with cash transfers in places like Mexico, Mongolia, and Alaska.
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN: 9781933286693
- Publication Date: Jun 2015
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5-7 Working Days
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
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days
Small States in the Multilateral Trading System
Teddy Y. Soobramanien
This study provides a fresh perspective on how measures can be taken to enhance the participation of small states and least developed countries (LDCs) in the multilateral trading system. It contributes to the ongoing general debate about reforming the World Trade Organization and global trade governance.
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN: 9781849291392
- Publication Date: Nov 2015
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days
Achieving a Resilient Future for Small States
Denny Lewis-Bynoe
Written by influential researchers and drawing on a wide cross-section of regional stakeholders and thought leaders, the study contains an assessment of the main challenges and opportunities for the Caribbean, scenario modelling of where it could be by 2050, and a vision for the region with sector specific goals of how to get there.
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN: 9781849291460
- Publication Date: Apr 2016
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days
Achieving the Istanbul Programme of Action by 2020
Achieving the Istanbul Programme of Action by 2020 focuses on four specific themes: structural transformation and export diversification in the LDCs; prospects of graduation of countries from the LDC group; implications of the 2030 Agenda in view of LDC concerns; and new challenges facing LDCs in their pursuit for achieving SDGs.
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN: 9781849291484
- Publication Date: Aug 2016
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days
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
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days
Marine Renewable Energy
This fourth volume in the Commonwealth Blue Economy Series, Marine Renewable Energy, explores the potential for the development of the blue economy by providing a high-level review of actions needed to progress marine renewable energy generation in SIDS.
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN: 9781849291552
- Publication Date: Sep 2016
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days
Small States
This unique annual collection of key economic and statistical data on small states is an essential reference for economists, planners and policy-makers. This volume contains 17 tables covering development indicators and an article focusing on climate change impacts, adaptation and policies for agriculture in African small states.
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN: 9781849291583
- Publication Date: Oct 2016
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Key Issues in Natural Resource Taxation and Revenue Management in the Commonwealth
Daniel Wilde
This Economic Paper analyses key issues in natural resource taxation and revenue management and recommends policies that can improve countries' economic performance. The discussion draws on economic theory, empirical evidence and the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
- Format: Paperback
- ISBN: 9781849291606
- Publication Date: Oct 2016
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days
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
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days
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
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days
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
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days
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
- Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days