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
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Assessing Aid for Trade

Dirk Willem te Velde

Aid for Trade has been an integral part of ODA since the WTO 2005 Ministerial. This volume of 16 papers provides a comprehensive review of the AfT initiative, examining effectiveness, current issues and future directions including an alternative way to improve trade for developing countries from Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stigliz.

  • Format: Hardback
  • ISBN: 9781849291231
  • Publication Date: Nov 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Anticipatory Social Protection

Marilyn Waring

This publication will help policy-makers and development practitioners to make informed decisions about programme design and delivery so that beneficiaries' access to and participation in social protection mechanisms are fully realised.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290951
  • Publication Date: Oct 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

New Century Local Government

Graham Sansom

This collection of papers shows how the role of local government is evolving throughout the Commonwealth and provides practical examples of new local government at work. It showcases emerging practice, and highlights success stories from new ways of working and challenges confronting local government in both developed and developing countries.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290937
  • Publication Date: Sep 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working 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

Pakistan General Elections, 11 May 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: 9781849291088
  • Publication Date: Jul 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working 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 Commonwealth Guide to Advancing Development through Sport

Tess Kay

A Guide for governments and stakeholders seeking to strengthen the contribution of sport to development and peace work. Part 1 provides evidence-based analysis of the potential contribution of sport to development objectives. Part 2 provides a practical framework for analysis, planning and monitoring of sport in development and peace work.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290876
  • Publication Date: Jun 2013
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Gender Responsive Investment Handbook

Vanessa Erogbogbo

Gender Responsive Investment is a process of ensuring gender-equitable access to financial services and investment. This Handbook supports policy-makers to identify the policies, laws and regulations that hinder women's access to finance, and assists financial institutions to deliver inclusive, well-designed products and services for women.

  • Imprint: Commonwealth Secretariat
  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291002
  • Publication Date: Jun 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

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.

  • Format: Hardback
  • ISBN: 9781849291248
  • Publication Date: May 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working 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

Principles for Local Government Legislation

Graham Sansom

This study is designed to help local government practitioners in Pacific island countries review and strengthen their existing legislative and regulatory frameworks. It identifies best practice, examines case studies of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Samoa, and presents ten key principles for effective legislation.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290890
  • Publication Date: Apr 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working 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

Education for Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States

Matthew Hiebert

This study analyses good practices and gaps in education for sustainable development (ESD) implementation in ten small island states vulnerable to climate change. It provides practical and realistic recommendations on how ESD may be better integrated in education policy and strategy and delivered more comprehensively.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290906
  • Publication Date: Feb 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working 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