What value do international organisations have for small states?

“Small states need support, and they need partners. Membership of international organisations can bring them the benefits of networks and assistance – but so, too, can it ask too much of them and give too little in return. Every country everywhere should stand back and evaluate its international partnerships, but none more than the 32 out of 53 Commonwealth states officially classified as ‘small states’, [mostly] with populations of less than 1.5 million. We were delighted to be asked to help develop this evaluation framework,” says Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon.

By looking at this framework and addressing its three key components – ‘relationship’, ‘effectiveness’ and ‘stewardship’ – small states can determine whether they should continue or cease their ties to various organisations.

Part of the assessment framework involves a questionnaire for all relevant stakeholders, which covers, among other things: the significance of the historical, geographic, political and economic relationship with an international organisation; whether or not common goals are shared between the organisation and the state; and how the organisation operates.

‘The International Organisations’ Assessment Framework for Small States’ was commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat after Vanuatu and Solomon Islands raised concerns with Mr McKinnon over the costs involved in belonging to a number of international organisations.

The Secretary-General offered to help by providing technical assistance in these two small states, so that the framework could be developed.

The framework was developed in late 2007 by a team from the University of the South Pacific (USP), based in Fiji Islands. The Secretariat’s Governance and Institutional Development Division then engaged the team from the USP’s Institute of Education to undertake field studies in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, and to design and trial the assessment framework.

“We welcome the fact that both Solomon Islands and Vanuatu value their Commonwealth membership and seek to gain even more from it,” says Mr McKinnon. “But the process of evaluation goes on: the Commonwealth, like any other organisation, has to remain relevant to the needs of its members. This assessment framework provides a template which any small state can apply to any international organisation, to see what value there is in its joining.”

Now that the framework has been effectively trialled in these two countries, it is available for other small states looking to assess the value of their membership to international organisations.

Key Links:

• Small States
• Commonwealth Secretary-General