Commonwealth Matters - August 2025
The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth supports development, democracy & peace. We are a voice for small states & a champion for young people.
Nominations for 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards open on International Youth Day
To highlight young people making a positive difference in their communities, the Commonwealth Secretariat recently opened nominations for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work. Managed by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, the awards, popularly known as the Commonwealth Youth Awards (CYA), recognise outstanding young changemakers, aged 15-29, from 56 member countries who demonstrate impactful projects that support the achievement of the SDGs. Each year, an outstanding entrant is named Commonwealth Young Person of the Year, with regional awards given for Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, and the Pacific.
Submit a nomination for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards →
Shining a spotlight on youth achievements for International Youth Day
For over 50 years, the Commonwealth Secretariat has been instrumental in empowering young people across its 56 member countries to lead and drive progress on development goals.
Commonwealth Observer Group begin work in Guyana, ahead of September poll
The 11-person team has been deployed by the Commonwealth Secretary-General to observe the entire polling process, following an invitation from the Guyana Elections Commission.
Young people at the Secretariat empowered to drive transformative change
On International Youth Day, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, began her workday by hosting an intimate breakfast with a cross-section of young people working at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Commonwealth provides technical assistance to boost Esports across Pakistan
Pakistan’s gaming and app development ecosystem has been growing rapidly, with locally-produced apps recording a compound annual growth rate of 32% in global downloads between 2018 and 2023.
How one Caribbean country is changing the face of debt
The beauty of the majestic Piton mountains, vibrant culture, dazzling beaches and the lush landscape of Saint Lucia are invaluable assets. The country also takes pride in having two Nobel laureates, which is remarkable for a nation with a population of over 180,000.
Commonwealth stakeholders come together ahead of critical global plastics treaty negotiations
Every year up to 23 million tonnes of plastics enter water ecosystems, posing serious human and environmental health threats. As negotiations for a legally binding global plastics treaty accelerate, the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance brought together officials from members countries to prepare for these critical negotiations.
A bold, innovative and ambitious new direction envisaged for the Commonwealth
As 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.
Blog: World Court tips the scales - Climate justice moves from rhetoric to responsibility
Blog by Bryce Adamson, Commonwealth Legal Officer (institutional matters), Deepa Pullanikkatil (outgoing Commonwealth Climate Finance Adviser to Fiji), Sarthak Roy (Assistant Research Officer, Governance and Peace), and Wei Chen (Programme Assistant, Economic Development, Trade and Investment)
In July, the International Court of Justice delivered a profound Advisory Opinion on Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change, tipping the scales towards climate justice. The World Court says past emissions matter. It says that harm already done, loss and damage already endured, must be recognised and repaired.
IYD 2025: Watch the Commonwealth Youth Spotlight - a celebration of youth innovation and global impact
Featured event
One year to go – Glasgow 2026: Celebrating Commonwealth unity through sport
Commonwealth High Commissioners, stakeholders and athletes will gather for an event at Marlborough House to mark the countdown to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Hosted by Commonwealth Sport and supported by the Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with Glasgow 2026, the event will celebrate the unity and diversity of the Commonwealth through sport. Discussions will highlight Glasgow 2026’s vision, including its emphasis on sustainability, youth engagement, and inclusion, while also promoting next year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Sports Breakfast and the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (CSMM) on the margins of the Games in Glasgow.
25 August - 7 September: Commonwealth Observer Group in Guyana
11 - 12 September: 7th Commonwealth Climate Access Hub Steering Committee Meeting
11 - 12 September: 2025 Meeting of Senior Officials of Commonwealth Law Ministries
17 - 19 November: 5th Global Youth Work Conference - Youth Work in a Changing World: Sustaining Local Wisdom for Global Connectivity
Publication highlight
From Brain Drain to Brain Gain: Unlocking Diaspora Finance in Small States
With the recent wave of socio-economic shocks that have impacted the economies of small states, scaling up access to finance remains crucial. Exploring untapped sources of financing is therefore imperative to help member states achieve their development targets, including the Sustainable Development Goals, and build resilient economies.
News from our Accredited Organisations
See the latest news, initiatives and opportunities from Commonwealth Accredited Organisations.
Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Association (CMJA) Triennial Conference: 21-26 September →
Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work (COSW) Fourth Annual Policy Forum: 13 September →
Around the Commonwealth
See the latest news, initiatives and opportunities from our sister organisations and other Commonwealth partners.
Open grants call for Commonwealth civil society organisations →
The 11th Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning in Botswana from 10-12 September →
2025 Commonwealth Students Association Elections: Thirty-eight candidates announced by CSA →