In 2024, women accounted for only 22 per cent of parliamentarians across the Commonwealth. This underrepresentation persists despite women’s proven leadership, their role as agents of change, and their right to participate equally in democratic governance.
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Commonwealth sports ministers agreed to increase cooperation on sport to bolster access to funding and for development and peace at the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, held on the eve of the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
Read news - Sports ministers renew Commonwealth cooperation through sportBlog by Dr Laila Shahzad and Mxolisi Sibanda, Climate Change Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat
Read news - Blog: Building climate resilience in the sports sector across the Commonwealth The launch of The Gambia National Sports Policy 2024–2034 marks a special moment in the sporting history of the Gambian people. The policy articulates the vision and aspirations of the Gambian sports community following extensive consultation with all involved.
Following the important role that the previous Sports Policy of the Gambia (2010–2019) played in the development of the sports system in the country, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS), in consultation with all major stakeholders in the country, has taken the important decision to review the policy to develop a new National Sports Policy for 2024 to 2034.
Read publication - The Gambia National Sports Policy 2024-2034Following the important role that the previous Sports Policy of the Gambia (2010–2019) played in the development of the sports system in the country, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS), in consultation with all major stakeholders in the country, has taken the important decision to review the policy to develop a new National Sports Policy for 2024 to 2034.
Shifra Ainomugisha from Uganda is the 2026 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year for her climate-smart, AI-driven projects reducing food loss and hunger.
Read news - From rotten tomatoes to AI: Ugandan Commonwealth Youth Award Winner takes aim at hunger across AfricaWhen a doctor told 19-year-old Sidney in 2004 that he had cancer, he says time seemed to freeze. Sitting in a hospital room in Nairobi, Kenya, Sidney was blindsided by despair and struggled to process the diagnosis.
Read news - From survivor to champion: How a young Kenyan is advancing the Commonwealth’s cancer care agendaWhen a doctor told 19-year-old Sidney in 2004 that he had cancer, he says time seemed to freeze. Sitting in a hospital room in Nairobi, Kenya, Sidney was blindsided by despair and struggled to process the diagnosis.
22 July 2026 to 22 July 2026
(BST)
Ministerial meeting
The Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with Commonwealth Sport and the Scottish Government, will convene the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (12CSMM) on 22 July 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Commonwealth Secretariat, in partnership with Commonwealth Sport and the Scottish Government, convened the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (12CSMM) on 22 July 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland.
As the world gears up for global sporting events, the Commonwealth Secretariat convened an annual debate today to examine how sport can bring communities together and promote greater equality across countries.
Read news - Commonwealth debate examines sport’s role in promoting equality and inclusionThe publication of the second edition of the Curriculum Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represents a significant step forward in the ongoing transformation of education as an essential driver for sustainable development throughout the Commonwealth.
Read news - The Second Edition of the Curriculum Framework for the SDGs: Advancing Education for a Sustainable FutureThe Curriculum Framework is a flexible guide designed to support countries in shaping education systems that are relevant, inclusive and future ready.
Rather than prescribing a fixed syllabus, it provides a model for integrating knowledge, skills, values and attitudes, preparing learners not only for employment but also for active and meaningful participation in society. At its core, the framework aligns national curricula with the SDGs, ensuring that education contributes to individual wellbeing, social inclusion and sustainable development.
Read publication - A Curriculum Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals: Second EditionRather than prescribing a fixed syllabus, it provides a model for integrating knowledge, skills, values and attitudes, preparing learners not only for employment but also for active and meaningful participation in society. At its core, the framework aligns national curricula with the SDGs, ensuring that education contributes to individual wellbeing, social inclusion and sustainable development.
This report evaluates how physical education, physical activity and sport-related policies might contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing a baseline for measurement. It represents the first attempt to develop a sport and SDG measurement tool, offering an innovative framework for assessing the impact of sports on sustainable development.
Read publication - The Global Sport and Sustainable Development Goals Baseline and Initial Impact ReportAs it celebrates its 40th year, the Information Technology for Development (ITD) journal is expanding its horizons and will now be published by the Association for Information Systems (AIS).
Read news - New chapter begins for Commonwealth Secretariat’s flagship IT for Development journal in 2026For over 30 years, two remarkable leaders in northern Nigeria have been quietly transforming religious conflict into dialogue, trust and peace. Reverend Dr James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa were once adversaries in the violent Christian-Muslim clashes that shook northern Nigeria in the 1990s.
Read news - Commonwealth Peace Prize winners celebrate 30 years of turning conflict into coexistenceAs a part of its strategic planning process, the Commonwealth Secretariat recently held a series of consultations with representatives from its 97 accredited organisations and its Board of Governors.
Read news - A bold, innovative and ambitious new direction envisaged for the CommonwealthTwenty-nine managers from The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone received hands-on training this month to manage their public debt portfolios using a Commonwealth software.
Read news - Five West African countries better equipped to manage public debt using Commonwealth software1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Event
Leaders at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting declared 2025 as the Commonwealth Year of Resilient, Innovative and Sustainable Debt.
Around 100 young leaders from across Bangladesh have pledged to champion the values of the Commonwealth Charter, following a two-day workshop in Dhaka from 23 to 24 June 2025.
Read press release - 100 young Bangladeshis committed to championing Commonwealth valuesThe number of people aged 65 and over in Commonwealth countries is projected to rise from 231 million in 2019 to 559 million by 2050. There is a growing need to ensure that they also age well, living productive, healthy and fulfilling lives.
Read news - CommonAge partner to empower ageing Commonwealth populationsThe 9th Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development, co-hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat and Commonwealth Sport, saw two strong teams of experts debate the merits of traditional and modern sport. Both sides agreed that sport has tremendous potential to unite and inspire communities.
Read news - Commonwealth debate reinforces the "intangible cultural heritage of sport"Traditional sports and games will be pitted against the increased interest in modern competition at the 9th Commonwealth Debate on Sport and Sustainable Development, to be held on Wednesday, 26 March 2025.
Read news - Commonwealth debate set to tackle growth of modern sportThe Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, and Founder and Chairman of the Khalili Foundation, Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili, have congratulated the joint winners of the first Commonwealth Peace Prize, Rev Dr James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa.
Read news - Inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize winners from Nigeria lauded for their contributions10 March 2025 to 10 March 2025
(GMT)
Event
The winners of the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize, Rev Dr James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, will receive their award on 10 March 2025 during the reception to celebrate Commonwealth Day.
The Commonwealth Secretariat is deepening its partnership with the CARICOM Secretariat on youth mainstreaming and youth statistics.
Read news - Championing a data-driven approach to youth development in the Caribbean