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 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
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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
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Regional Integration in South Asia

Mohammad A. Razzaque

This volume presents an objective assessment of trade and economic co-operation among South Asian nations and highlights policy issues to foster regional integration. It presents insightful perspectives on potential new areas of co-operation, emerging challenges, and country-specific views on regional and bilateral trade co-operation issues.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291224
  • Publication Date: Nov 2014
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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
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Malawi Tripartite Elections, 20 May 2014

The report of the Commonwealth Observer Group for Malawi tripartite elections held on 20 May 2014. The mission was chaired by Lt Gen Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe, former Vice-President of Botswana and was comprised of 11 members in total.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291323
  • Publication Date: Oct 2014
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The Commonwealth at the Summit, Volume 4

The Commonwealth at the Summit: Volume 4 brings together the full text of declarations, statements and communiqués issued by Commonwealth Heads of Government between 2007 and 2015.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291576
  • Publication Date: Nov 2016
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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
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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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E-commerce and Digital Trade

Paul R. Baker

E-Commerce and Digital Trade reviews the current frameworks, legal issues, empirical data, WTO member states proposals, and existing literature. It is designed for policy-makers in Commonwealth small states, LDCs, and sub-Saharan African countries to participate in global work on the subject area, including the WTO work programme on e-commerce.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291682
  • Publication Date: Jul 2017
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Navigating Uncertainty

Brendan Vickers

Navigating Uncertainty offers timely and expert commentary on how a new UK trade policy towards the EU and developing countries could be designed and implemented. The essays unbundle complex issues and offer a context for the current debate, as well as providing a framework within which to assess and discuss the ongoing negotiations.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291767
  • Publication Date: Mar 2018
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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
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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
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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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Case Law Handbook on Violence Against Women and Girls in Commonwealth East Africa

This case law handbook illustrates the manifestations of VAWG in the respective jurisdictions in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, application of the law (national and international), procedures, current and recommended court practices, sentencing, remedies, ratio decidendi, relevant obiter dicta and the recommended judicial process.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291880
  • Publication Date: Sep 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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Turkey and Transatlantic Relations

Sasha Toperich

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9780990772125
  • Publication Date: Mar 2018
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