Core Information 4 to 7

4. COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING (CHOGM)

The CHOGM is held every two years in a different Commonwealth country. Organisations Accredited to the Commonwealth may apply for accreditation to CHOGM. Organisations accredited to CHOGM may submit briefs and papers, and have access to a special CSO lounge equipped with computers and photocopying equipment and where they can receive CHOGM papers. A few weeks before CHOGM, a meeting of the Committee of the Whole (COW) takes place in London where senior officials make plans for the CHOGM. Since 2003, CSOs have been invited to a special consultation with members of the COW to put forward their issues.

The Commonwealth Foundation organises a Commonwealth Peoples Forum at the time of CHOGM, and runs activities for CSOs in the lead up to CHOGM. It works closely with staff of the Political Affairs Division of the Secretariat to enable the CSO concerns to be heard at CHOGM.

5. CIVIL SOCIETY CONSULTATIONS

The Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Foundation co-host civil society consultations twice a year for Commonwealth organisations accredited to the Commonwealth and selected CSOs involved in areas of work relevant to the agenda of the meeting. The overall objective of these meetings is to provide a forum for the discussion of issues of common interest to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Foundation and CSOs. The meetings are normally held in London at Marlborough House . Minutes of these meetings are available.

6. CSO FOCUS GROUPS AND THE COOLUM COMMITTEE

Organisations accredited to the Commonwealth, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working with the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Foundation are invited to form focus groups around a certain topic or theme. The groups meet from time to time to share information and experiences, and to coordinate their input to Commonwealth activities and meetings. Representatives of focus groups attend the meetings of the Coolum Committee, a twice-yearly meeting of senior staff of the three main agencies of the Commonwealth, the Secretariat, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Commonwealth of Learning . Minutes of these meetings are available.

7. THE COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION

The Commonwealth Foundation is a separate intergovernmental organisation of the Commonwealth, funded by Commonwealth governments, and mandated to promote the involvement of civil society in the Commonwealth. It facilitates the participation of CSOs in Commonwealth priority areas of work and organises programmes in areas of key interest to CSOs such as 'citizens and governance' and strengthening civil society-government relations. The Foundation is advised by a Civil Society Advisory Committee of 15 CSOs from around the Commonwealth which meets twice a year. Five members of the Civil Society Advisory Committee are members of the Foundation's Board of Governors which meets annually. Two CSAC members are members of its Executive Committee which meets twice a year. The Foundation is the only intergovernmental organisation in the world with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) formally integrated into its key governance structures.