Building a Culture of Democracy
Between July 2003 and June 2005, the Commonwealth Secretariat worked to improve democratic institutions through election observation, advice, technical assistance and training.

Four Commonwealth Observer Groups and eight Expert Teams observed elections. The Secretariat provided advisers to nine countries to strengthen democratic processes and institutions. It strengthened its partnerships with regional and Commonwealth organisations. Workshops on ‘Government and Opposition’ were held and support provided to increase women’s political participation and representation.

In May 2004, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) removed Fiji Islands from its agenda. The Group lifted Pakistan's suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth, but retained the country on its agenda.
The Secretary-General’s good offices role grew significantly, with initiatives in nine countries.

Promoting the Rule of Law and Human Rights
The Secretariat assisted member countries in strengthening constitutions, promoting the independence of the judiciary, advancing human rights, implementing judicial reforms, and combating crime and corruption. It placed constitutional and legislative drafters in member countries and regional organisations.

The Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles on the Three Branches of Government were launched in 2004. Legal capacity-building projects helped strengthen the administration of justice in member states.

Efforts to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism included the production of model legislative provisions and implementation kits for UN Security Council Resolution 1373, counter-terrorism workshops, and assistance in implementing the Financial Action Task Force recommendations. Expert groups discussed the UN Convention against Corruption and the recovery and repatriation of assets of illicit origin.

The Commonwealth worked with other organisations including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to raise awareness of and strengthen respect for human rights. Member countries were encouraged to ratify and implement UN human rights conventions. The capacity of national human rights institutions was strengthened, and best practice guidelines on human rights issues developed.

The Secretariat conducted workshops, and developed a human rights manual for police training academies. It collaborated with civil society partners on country-specific model human rights courses.

A new Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005-2015 was agreed by Women’s Affairs Ministers.

The Secretariat continued efforts to promote women’s political participation and the integration of a gender perspective into governments’ mainstream decision-making.

Economic Opportunities
The Secretariat worked towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through advocacy, consensus-building, policy advice and hands-on technical assistance delivered through the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC).

To make the Doha Development Agenda operational, the Secretariat enhanced member countries’ ability to formulate and implement beneficial trade policies. It worked with the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) on the negotiation of economic partnership agreements. Its ‘Hub and Spokes’ project placed senior trade experts (‘Hubs’) in regional economic integration organisations, and trade policy analysts (‘Spokes’) in individual countries. Technical assistance was provided for small states and least developed countries in implementing World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements.

The Secretariat sought to improve the competitiveness of member states by building their capacity in strategy formulation and trade promotion. It assisted in export and sectoral strategies, market development, compliance with international standards, trade facilitation and customs. It also helped member states to achieve the goals set at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Efforts to build the resilience and competitiveness of small states and support their integration in the global economy included Small States Forums organised with the World Bank.

The Secretariat facilitated member countries’ access to capital investment flows through the Commonwealth Private Investment Initiative. It also assisted in policies and strategies to boost small and medium-sized enterprises. Member governments received advice on mining and petroleum industries, and maritime boundaries.

In seeking to reduce the debt burden, the Secretariat provided inputs into the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. It assisted member states in debt management through the Secretariat’s Debt Recording and Management System (CS-DRMS 2000+).

Recognising the need to enhance economic opportunities for women, the Secretariat focused on gender-responsive budgeting, mainstreaming gender in enterprise development, gender and employment, and gender in debt and development resource management.

More than 70 assignments were undertaken in some 30 countries covering public sector reform, public expenditure management, public-private partnerships, corporate governance, public sector informatics, public sector governance, sub-national governance, anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and human resource development. The CFTC continued to play a major role in efforts to meet the MDGs through the development of capacities and skills, by providing experts and training in developing countries.

Supporting Social Development
The MDGs include commitments to achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases by 2015. The Secretariat worked towards these goals through programmes in education, health, youth affairs and economic development assistance designed to make more resources available for social development.

Work in education focused on the six Action Areas adopted by the 2003 Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers: achieving universal primary education; eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education; improving quality in education; using distance learning to overcome barriers; supporting education in difficult circumstances; and mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS on education systems.

Reducing maternal mortality was the focus of the Secretariat’s work in maternal health. It helped produce eight new films on maternal and newborn health, and sought to improve the education of midwives in rural areas. Ministries of health worked with the Secretariat to reduce the threat posed by the growing shortage of health workers.

The Secretariat assisted member countries in the development of a multi-sectoral and rights-based response to HIV and AIDS. It disseminated information on HIV/AIDS issues, brokered partnerships, and acted as a catalyst to strengthen HIV/AIDS policy, programmes and plans in member states. It assisted in establishing frameworks and procedures to implement the 2003 WTO General Council Decision on access to medicines at affordable prices.

The Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) focused on four strategic areas: youth enterprise development, youth networks and governance, youth participation, and youth work education and training. It continued to work at the pan-Commonwealth level and through its four regional centres.

The Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative enabled the establishment of 7,800 more youth-oriented businesses. Technology Empowerment Centres provided young people with new ICT skills.

The CYP enhanced the capacity of young people to influence good governance processes. This included the development of national youth policies and building the capacity of national youth councils. The Youth Development Index project is being implemented in the Caribbean.

Under the Young Ambassadors for Positive Living programme, more young people, most of whom are HIV positive, worked as peer educators and counsellors. The programme was expanded beyond Africa to Asia and the Caribbean.

The CYP involved young people in its own decision-making through the Commonwealth Youth Caucus and Regional Youth Caucuses. Its Regional Youth Proficiency Awards recognised excellence in youth development work.

The CYP Diploma in Youth in Development Work is now implemented in 42 member countries through 28 partner institutions.

The 2004 Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting adopted a Plan of Action focusing on anti-doping in sport, the participation of women in sport and the organisation of major sporting events. It was agreed that the Secretariat would work with the World Anti-Doping Agency. The Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport was established to promote sport for social and economic development.

The Secretariat and its Partners
The Secretariat strengthened its strategic relationships at the global level, adopting a more co-ordinated approach to managing its relations with institutional partners, including the UN system, the EU, the African Union, the ACP Secretariat, the WTO, regional bodies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, the World Bank and regional development banks.

Civil society has been increasingly involved in Commonwealth policy-making carried out through meetings of Heads of Government and of ministers in various sectors. Procedures for accrediting CSOs were regularised, with 43 organisations now formally accredited to the Commonwealth.

Ensuring that the Commonwealth’s voice is heard and raising awareness of its values and achievements remains an integral part of the Secretariat’s work. It issued 163 press releases and published 150 books as well as a range of audio and video productions, distributed to Commonwealth broadcasters. The new Commonwealth Information Centre was opened in London in 2005.

The Secretariat consolidated previously disparate sites under the main Secretariat website. The e-mail based Commonwealth News and Information Service continued to grow.

The Commonwealth Media Development Fund (CMDF) supported training for some 720 media professionals from 46 countries.

The Secretariat continued to make improvements in its staffing structure, human resource management, financial, administrative, monitoring and reporting systems, to ensure they better reflect contemporary good practice and member governments’ priorities.

A review of staff pay, grading and terms and conditions of service was undertaken.

Evaluation studies provided essential lessons for the future. In 2003, a review recommended the adoption of a four-year rolling programme of evaluations. Evaluations of the Secretariat’s support to the Small States Office in New York, the Strategic Gap-Filling programme and the CMDF were carried out.