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.

Commonwealth Trade Review 2015

Fundamental changes are taking place in the global trade landscape, and the Commonwealth, with its diverse membership, is adapting to and coming to terms with these changes. Offering insightful perspectives on topical issues that can contribute to promoting the role of trade in development, Commonwealth Trade Review 2015 addresses these issues.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291453
  • Publication Date: Nov 2015
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Advancing Gender Equality

Advancing Gender Equality brings together case studies from 20 countries that demonstrate a range of strategies that can be employed to advance gender equality and women's empowerment. Together they help to show what perpetuates gender inequality and offer approaches that can be adopted to help end unjust discrimination.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291514
  • Publication Date: Aug 2016
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

The Blue Economy and Small States

Island nations have benefited from their ocean resources, with marine uses and activities contributing to their economic development. There is a growing appreciation of the critical role oceans play in sustainable economic growth and the need to manage and protect coastal and marine ecosystems that are the fundamental basis for that growth.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291569
  • Publication Date: Sep 2016
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Global Youth Development Index and Report 2016

The Commonwealth's 2016 Global Youth Development Index and Report is an overview of the development of young people (aged 15 -30) in 183 countries, including 49 Commonwealth countries. It analyses 18 indicators across five domains -- education, health and well-being, employment and opportunity, political participation and civic participation.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291590
  • Publication Date: Oct 2016
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

A Handbook on Regional Integration in Africa

Brendan Vickers

This publication advises and informs on current dynamics, opportunities, challenges and policy options for Africa's regional integration agenda. It is a unique resource for supporting capacity-building on African regional trade issues.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291675
  • Publication Date: Apr 2017
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Tackling Corruption in Commonwealth Africa

Roger Koranteng

Tackling Corruption in Commonwealth Africa identifies the institutions in five countries that have taken the lead in reducing the impact of corruption and accounts for the factors – both technical and political – that have enabled these institutions to implement successful anti-corruption strategies.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291828
  • Publication Date: Nov 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
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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
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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
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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

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

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

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