A state-of-the-art software developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat has been rolled out in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to transform how the country manages its public debt portfolio of US $2.2 billion.
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to manage public debt using Commonwealth software
Main page for this area of work
5 October 2023 to 5 October 2023
(BST)
Event
You are invited to the virtual launch of our Handbook on Public Debt Transparency via Zoom.
With opening remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary General, the virtual launch will draw speakers from various geographical regions for diversity of thought and perspectives. Speakers from The Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Member Countries, Academics, Development Partners, Debt Managers, Experts and Practitioners, will also share their thoughts via the panels and keynote presentations.
With opening remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary General, the virtual launch will draw speakers from various geographical regions for diversity of thought and perspectives. Speakers from The Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Member Countries, Academics, Development Partners, Debt Managers, Experts and Practitioners, will also share their thoughts via the panels and keynote presentations.
By Benjamin Kwasi Addom, Adviser, Agriculture & Fisheries Trade Policy, Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda
In this blog, Benjamin Kwasi Addom discusses a model of digital public infrastructure (DPI) developed under the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment programme to support Commonwealth countries' design and build their national infrastructure for agricultural data.
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Blog: Commonwealth Secretariat launches initiative to support member countries to better manage agricultural data through DPI
In this blog, Benjamin Kwasi Addom discusses a model of digital public infrastructure (DPI) developed under the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda for Trade and Investment programme to support Commonwealth countries' design and build their national infrastructure for agricultural data.
The Global Sport and SDG Impact Report will be the first global baseline report on the global data available to evidence the contribution that physical education, physical activity and sport make to sustainable development. This policy brief offers a preview of that report, explaining its methodology and indicators, and highlighting areas in which measurable progress has been made and where gaps in the evidence have been found.
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The Global Sport and Sustainable Development Goals Impact Report
The global dialogue is converging towards a new financial system that can address the ongoing challenges of countries, especially countries severely vulnerable to economic and climate risks.
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Blog: Towards a New Global Financial Architecture - The Commonwealth Call for Commitment and Action
The 2023 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting (CTMM) opened today at Marlborough House in London. The meeting, being held on the 5th and 6th of June, brings together trade ministers from across the Commonwealth to discuss and deliberate on key issues related to trade and investment.
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Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meet to Foster Cooperation for Resilient, Inclusive, Green and Digital Economies
This report provides a succinct overview of development finance and climate finance, focussing on its provision to Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States within the Commonwealth. It considers the current and potential roles of multilateral development banks and international development financial institutions; tools such as ‘debt for climate’ swaps; and the need to reconsider the use of and balance between debt capital and grants. Finally, the report proposes alternative funding mechanisms and reforms to international financial architecture that could have transformative impacts on capital flows to enable vulnerable developing nations to respond to the effects of climate change and increase their resilience.
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Accessing Development and Climate Finance: Issues and Challenges in the Commonwealth Countries
A study published by the Commonwealth Secretariat has highlighted the potential for the East African Community (EAC) to establish a billion-dollar ‘green steel ecosystem’ and secure a profitable but less carbon-intensive steel industry for the region.
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Commonwealth study points to green steel opportunity in East Africa
The Commonwealth Small States Advocacy Champions convened their first meeting during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings on 14 April, to discuss emerging and key issues related to economic vulnerability, climate change, access to finance, and debt sustainability.
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Commonwealth Small States Advocacy Champions meet for first time in Washington
Finance ministers from various Commonwealth countries have called for a systemic reform of the global financial architecture to enhance access to development financing for vulnerable countries
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Commonwealth finance ministers call for systemic reform of global financial architecture
Baroness Scotland calls for innovative finance mechanisms to close fiscal space on health in national economies.
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Commonwealth health gains ‘at risk’ due to global financing gap, says Secretary-General
12 April 2023 to 13 April 2023
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat will host two side events during the 2023 World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings in Washington DC to explore innovative financing solutions and fiscal policy options for sustainable and resilient development.
The Bahamas is scoring early wins in its debt management journey as it targets more fiscal space for national priorities and growth.
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Debt breakthrough - Lessons on mastering debt management from The Bahamas
This paper presents fiscal policy options for resilient and sustainable development in the context of ever-increasing and diverse shocks and uncertainties, discussing how the appropriate design and mix of national and subnational tax and public investment regimes can best ensure the stable provision of essential services and local infrastructure.
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Fiscal Policy Options for Resilient and Sustainable Development
As countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and face the compounding challenges of global inflation, debt, climate change and sociopolitical scenarios, there is a need to explore new investment strategies to accelerate economic development, build resilience and balance competing environmental, economic and social pressures. In this context, the concept of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) as a framework for sustainable growth has gained new relevance. This paper discusses the potential benefits of ESG in terms of enabling sustainable economic growth in the Commonwealth, including possible technical assistance, capacity building and policy development on ESG for public debt management and improved public sector sustainability, including collaboration with International Financial Institutions financing standards.
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Environmental, Social and Governance Practices for Value Creation in the Commonwealth
This week, the Commonwealth Secretariat’s International Trade Policy team in partnership with The UK Department for Business and Trade held an event to reflect on the legacy of the Commonwealth Games and how businesses can continue to build on the relationships forged throughout the Games and the trade and investment opportunities available for businesses.
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Assessing the trade gains from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games
On International Women’s Day, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the International Trade Centre (ITC) jointly hosted a discussion on ‘Bridging the digital gap for women-led businesses in developing economies’.
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Commonwealth and ITC work to bridge the digital gap for female entrepreneurs in the developing world
8 March 2023 to 8 March 2023
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat and the International Trade Centre will host an event on 8 March in New York City at 11:30 am EST on bridging the digital gap for women-led businesses in developing countries.
Senior officials from Eastern and Southern Africa have received hands-on training to manage their public debt using the Commonwealth’s new debt management system.
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African countries trained to manage public debt using new Commonwealth system
Work by the Commonwealth Secretariat to support Fiji’s Reserve Bank in digitising its paper-based certificates of securities, such as government bonds, will benefit investors, making it easier for them to own, safekeep and trade in the country’s financial market, valued at about $6 billion.
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Commonwealth support for new digital securities will benefit investors in Fiji
The Commonwealth Secretary-General the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC has pledged Commonwealth support to help Kenya realise its ambitious innovation goals.
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Commonwealth Secretary General pledges support for Kenya’s innovation ambitions
A workshop, hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the International Institute for investment Treaties, has trained Cameroonian government officials to attract foreign capital by better negotiating investment agreements.
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Commonwealth trains Cameroonian officials to attract inward investment
Today Commonwealth Finance Ministers met on the margins of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Washington DC for the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting 2022 (CFMM) to address emerging economic issues facing the global economy and Commonwealth countries.
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Commonwealth Finance Ministers call for fiscal support measures to help tame rising inflation
More than 40 government officials and civil society representatives in Belize have completed the first segment of a three-part climate change proposal ‘writeshop’.
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Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub supports Belizeans to gain skills in mobilising funds
At their annual meeting held today in Washington DC, Commonwealth Central Bank Governors came together to discuss strategies to best work together to tackle inflation at a time when the global economy is facing excessive inflationary pressures driven by geopolitical tensions, coupled with the disruption in supply chain.
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Commonwealth Central Banks Governors explore effective strategies for tackling inflation