Funding

The Secretariat and its work is financed by three separate budgets or funds. The budget of the Secretariat is based on assessed contributions. Governments contribute on an agreed scale based on capacity to pay.

Starting 2009/2010, the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) is also financed by assessed contributions. The Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) is financed by voluntary contributions.

For 2009/2010:

• the Secretariat’s budget was UK£14,995,745,
• the CFTC’s UK£29,168,723 and
• the CYP’s UK£2,815,018 million.

Funding the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC)

All contributions to the CFTC are voluntary.

Over the past six years, the largest contributors have been:

• Australia,
  
• Botswana,
• Brunei Darussalam,
• Canada,
  
• India,
  
• New Zealand,
• Nigeria
• the UK.
  

Some member countries’ overseas territories and associated states also contribute. For special CFTC projects, contributions have been received from non-Commonwealth governments and voluntary organisations.

Dealing with arrears

The Abuja guidelines were approved by Heads of Governments at the CHOGM in Abuja, Nigeria in December 2003. These govern procedures for dealing with arrears of contributions to the Secretariat’s funds.