Commonwealth Foundation

The Commonwealth Foundation is an inter-governmental agency created to assist civil society and is in fact governed by both governments and civil society representatives. A Civil Society Advisory Committee provides assistance to the Foundation in its activities.

The Foundation promotes civil society activity in the Commonwealth and assists activities connected to democracy and development, respect for gender equality, human rights, poverty eradication and sustainable people-centred development, as well as the promotion of culture and diversity. The Foundation funds networking, capacity building, training and information exchange besides art and cultural activities.

For activists, a particularly important aspect to the Foundation’s role is its facilitation of civil society fora and consultation prior to important Commonwealth meetings, which allows civil society to engage in meaningful interventions in these meeting. As such, the Foundation provides a vital link between the official Commonwealth and the unofficial or people’s Commonwealth, and provides platforms for the different groups to interact and engage in resolving pressing issues. For more information see the official website of the Foundation.