The Commonwealth
  1. Home
  2. What's New
    1. Latest News - RSS
  3. Who We Are
  4. What we do
    1. Democracy and Consensus Building
    2. Economic Development
    3. Education
    4. Environment and Climate Change
    5. Gender
    6. Good offices for peace
    7. Health
    8. Human Development
    9. Human Rights
    10. Rule of law
    11. Public Sector Development
    12. Sport
    13. Youth
  5. How we do it
    1. CHOGM
    2. Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group
    3. Technical Cooperation and Strategic Response Group
    4. Policy Development
    5. Advisory Services
    6. Development Network
    7. Funding
    8. Case Studies
  6. News
    1. News Archive
    2. Press Releases
    3. Multimedia
    4. Commonwealth Newsletter
    5. Follow us
    6. Events
    7. FAQs
    8. Media Contacts
  7. Resources
    1. Documents
    2. Library & Archives
  8. Publications
  9. Employment
  10. FAQs
    1. Acronyms
  11. Contact Us

Ongoing Activities

AFRICA

Cameroon

  • Sustained engagement from the Secretariat has resulted in the establishment of the first independent election management body in Cameroon, ELECAM. We will continue to work the Government and ELECAM to strengthen ELECAM’s capacity.
  • Continuing to support the development of the justice and penal sectors.

The Gambia

  • Continued engagement from the Secretariat led to the development of a Commonwealth-guaranteed MoU prior to the last Presidential election in 2006, and a Code of Conduct as a basis for cooperation between political parties. 
  • Our focus continues to be on the strengthening of democratic processes and institutions, including the judiciary through the provision of Commonwealth judges and prosecutors. This is a collaborative programme with DFID.
  • Sustained engagement which has led to the development of Judges Bill and Code of Ethics by the Judiciary.

Kenya

  • A Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) reported on the disputed December 2007 general elections. COG Chair, Tejan Kabbah, former President of Sierra Leone, played important role in days following the poll, meeting all political leaders to advocate dialogue and restraint.
  • We supported the peace initiatives led by Kofi Annan and the Panel of African Eminent Personalities and are working closely with the Kenyan Government, AU and the UN to support ongoing Commissions focusing on post-electoral violence, and the truth, justice and reconciliation process through nomination of Commonwealth judges and experts.

Lesotho

  • We continue to provide ongoing support to the South African Development Community (SADC), as well as local political and civil society leaders on efforts to encourage long-term political reconciliation for long term development.
  • We also continue to support the workshops for all opposition politicians on the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) parliamentary system, as part of our ongoing assistance in view of the political impasse that transpired after the 2007 General Election.

Swaziland

  • We played a key role in the introduction of a constitution. Our work continues, working closely with the Government on the implementation of the new constitution.
  • We continue to provide support for the implementation of the Commonwealth Assistance Programme (CAPIS) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Swaziland, including developing the capacity of parliamentarians to support the implementation of the Constitution.

ASIA

Maldives

  • The Commonwealth supported the reform process and introduction of multipartyism. This resulted, in August 2008, in a new progressive constitution that reflects Commonwealth fundamental principles.
  • We observed the first multi-party, multi-candidate Presidential election in October 2008 which saw a historic transfer of power, and continue to encourage the Government to ensure implementation of democratic reforms to deepen a democratic culture and strengthen democratic institutions and processes.
  • We work closely with political parties and need to focus on managing political tensions in the ongoing programme of democratic reform.

CARIBBEAN

Guyana

  • The Secretary General’s Special Envoy Sir Paul Reeves assisted in the promotion of dialogue between the two main political parties and generally encouraging a more inclusive political environment that has the confidence of all stakeholders. 
  • Work focused on providing expertise to institute administrative reform and capacity building within the Electoral Commission and Parliament, as well as supporting national programmes and activities promoting reconciliation and conflict prevention. 
  • Our sustained engagement helped create a more stable environment which enabled the first violence free Presidential election to take place in September 2006.

PACIFIC

Fiji Islands

  • The Commonwealth is engaged, jointly with the UN, with the interim Government and all parties to encourage and support political dialogue. 
  • The engagement is aimed at helping to ensure the full restoration of sustainable constitutional democracy within the shortest timeframe possible, consistent with the position taken by the Pacific Islands Forum.

Tonga

  • We facilitated political dialogue between the Government, nobles and people’s representatives in the wake of unrest in November 2007.
  • Special Envoy, Sir Doug Graham, has facilitated discussions and provided technical advice on options for dialogue.
  • We will continue to support the constitutional reform process and provide assistance, as appropriate.