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

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

WTO Reform

Teddy Soobramanien

WTO Reform: Reshaping Global Trade Governance for 21st Century Challenges is a valuable resource for governments, trade negotiators, journalists, academics and researchers who are attempting to sort through the complexities of the organisation and the role they can play in supporting a fairer, more inclusive WTO and multilateral trading system.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291866
  • Publication Date: Apr 2019
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Strengthening Disaster Resilience in Small States

Wonderful Hope Khonje

Strengthening Disaster Resilience in Small States: Commonwealth Perspectives offers timely and expert analysis of differentiated exposure of small states to natural disasters, including an examination of specific interventions for strengthening small states' resilience to this phenomenon.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291897
  • Publication Date: Oct 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

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

Global Youth Development Index and Report 2020

The Youth Development Index is a resource for researchers, policy-makers and civil society, including young people, to track progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) associated with youth development.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849292009
  • Publication Date: Sep 2021
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Social Policies in Samoa

Desmond U Amosa

Samoa is a role model in the Pacific region for its economic and social achievements. This in-depth study traces the history of government policy and examines the fundamentals underpinning the country's progress. It also examines how the fa'a Samoa, the culture, enabled the country to build resilience after crises in the 1990s.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290821
  • Publication Date: Jul 2012
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Integrating Sustainable Development into International Investment Agreements

J. Anthony VanDuzer

This Guide is designed to assist developing countries to negotiate International Investment Agreements (IIAs) that are more effective in promoting their sustainable development. A useful reference tool for developing country negotiators and interested parties.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290869
  • Publication Date: May 2013
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

e-Governance in Small States

Anthony Ming

ICTs can create digital pathways between citizens and governments that are affordable, accessible and widespread. This book aims to strengthen the understanding of policy-makers by outlining the conditions and processes involved in the planning and execution of e-government projects.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291026
  • Publication Date: Jul 2013
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

The Right to Trade

Joseph E. Stiglitz

Aid for trade has not delivered on its initial promise. To create a genuinely pro-development trade liberalisation agenda, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E Stiglitz and Andrew Charlton put forward proposals that will help international trade work for developing countries and preserve a development-friendly multilateral trading system.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291057
  • Publication Date: Jun 2013
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Tourism and Inclusive Growth in Small Island Developing States

Mark P. Hampton

How tourism might facilitate inclusive growth in small states. The study provides analysis of the gains achieved by direct and indirect channels and the gaps in data collection. Uses data from Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles, examines land-based and cruise tourism operations and explores how local supply chains could be enhanced.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291071
  • Publication Date: Aug 2013
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Transitioning to a Green Economy

Nadine Smith

What does the concept 'green economy' look like in practice? This book contains case studies from eight small states: Botswana, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mauritius, Nauru, Samoa and Seychelles. It provides insights into the success of various initiatives and highlights how small states themselves are making practical progress.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291279
  • Publication Date: Mar 2014
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Effectiveness of Aid for Trade in Small and Vulnerable Economies

Massimiliano Calì

This Economic Paper presents the first analyses of the use and effectiveness of Aid for Trade (AfT), the initiative to help developing countries boost their involvement in the global economy. It examines the extent to which SVEs have been able to access AfT funds and to what extent this assistance has helped them to improve their trade performance.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290487
  • Publication Date: Mar 2011
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 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. This volume contains 68 tables covering development indicators and 4 articles focusing on the green economy.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290791
  • Publication Date: Dec 2012
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Educators in Exile

Barry Sesnan

This study addresses a gap in the literature on the role and status of teachers in emergencies. Through field research from Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, it identifies issues facing refugee teachers and makes recommendations on how policy can address their needs, and thus improve access to education to populations affected by an emergency.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290913
  • Publication Date: Feb 2013
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days