Digital Infrastructure Divide in the Commonwealth: Paper
A new paper on digital infrastructure divide which considers the hard/soft infrastructure divide, and gender digital divide in relation to digital infrastructure for sustainable and inclusive development, has been published as part of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Trade Competitiveness Briefing Paper series.
The paper assesses infrastructure using various parameters including access, affordability and performance. It finds that a digital divide exists within and across the Commonwealth, at different levels. Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a major digital infrastructure divide that has affected economic activities across the Commonwealth, it has also highlighted the importance of sound digital infrastructure for economic sustainability in Commonwealth member countries.
The paper recommends that including digital infrastructure is a core component to accelerate economic recovery, asserting that digital infrastructure gaps must be addressed through effective and targeted interventions as Commonwealth countries further develop their economies.
Digital Currencies for Small States: Guide
The Bahamas was the first country in the world to nationally launch a central bank digital currency – the Sand Dollar in October 2020
So many developing countries, small states in particular, are adopting Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) so quickly. The Commonwealth Secretariat has published a paper that seeks to understand the drive behind CBDCs in and how they fit into the wider virtual and cryptocurrency landscape. The paper examines the benefits and risks of CBDCs, considers the drivers of CBDCs and unpacks why the technology might be such a good fit for small states.
Developing a National Cybersecurity Strategy: Guide
More than twenty partners from Intergovernmental and International Organisations, private sector, academia and civil society including the Commonwealth Secretariat contributed the development of the guide.
The 2nd Edition of National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS ) is a unique resource for national leaders and policy-makers in the development of a National Cybersecurity Strategy, and in thinking strategically about cybersecurity, cyber preparedness and resilience. It provides a useful, flexible and user-friendly framework that has been agreed on by organisations with demonstrated and diverse experience in this topic area to set the context of a country’s socio-economic vision and current security posture.
The guide also aims to assist policymakers in the development of a Strategy that takes into consideration a country’s specific situation, cultural and societal values, and that encourages the pursuit of secure, resilient, ICT-enhanced and connected societies.
Gender
Commonwealth gender analysis guidance: Toolkit
The Commonwealth Foundation has developed a toolkit to help civil society organisations in the Caribbean understand the connections between gender and climate change, as well as develop gender-sensitive policies and programmes for adapting to climate change.
Gender-sensitising in Commonwealth Parliaments: Toolkit
Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) have created guidelines to help Commonwealth Parliaments transition into gender sensitive institutions.
The ‘CWP Gender Sensitising Parliaments Guidelines’ is a standards and checklist toolkit for parliamentary change that provides legislatures with an outline of gender sensitising standards that they can aim to achieve. Complimentary to the Guidelines is the Seven-Step Field Guide which provides a blueprint for parliaments interested in undertaking a gender sensitive review and making their institution more inclusive and representative.
Climate
Climate Crisis in Africa: Watch
The Commonwealth Foundation has published ‘A Lens on the Climate Crisis in Africa’ – a digital photography exhibition illustrating the devastating impact of climate change on African communities. It features photographs submitted by 24 photographers in 12 Commonwealth African countries, selected after an open call.
A video of the exhibition was first shown at the Commonwealth People’s Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, in June 2022, with an introduction by Kenyan environmentalist and climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti. The exhibition has been published online to mark Africa Climate Week 2022 and raise awareness of the impacts of climate change on the continent.
Earth observation tech for climate finance
CommonSensing is an innovative international project based on a partnership between Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, and a consortium of international partners, working together to support and build climate resilience and enhance decision making through the use of satellite remote sensing technology.
Many years of earth observation data is available from satellite imagery, giving a wealth information that can be used as rigorous unbiased evidence for supporting climate financing funding application. This data can be used for calculating baselines, reference conditions, and measuring the rate of change for many climate change conditions such as sea level rise, temperature, flooding, and land degradation.
The governments of Fiji Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, use all available data to guide their decisions on climate investment plans and to identify the right communities to participate in projects. Pre and post disaster management is improved through the use of earth observation data and the dedicated support of Commonwealth climate finance advisors.
With this evidence, it is possible to build stronger applications for climate finance funding, which is particularly relevant in rebuilding communities after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more about how the Commonwealth Climate Section through interventions like the CommonSensing Project in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, and the Climate Finance Access Hub, can help you.
- Download the Earth Observation Technologies for Improved Access to Climate Finance discussion paper
- Read launch event summary
Explore The CommonSensing Project
Commonwealth
Positive mental health in Commonwealth Parliaments: Toolkit
The toolkit addresses the unique mental health stressors that Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff face in their working lives, including long working hours, intense public scrutiny and online abuse via social media. It will guide, advise and educate Parliaments and Legislatures on how to improve their response to mental health issues experienced by Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff.
The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg, said:
“The CPA recognises the impact that COVID-19 has had on mental health over the past two years. I encourage Commonwealth Parliaments to utilise this new CPA toolkit to support and improve their work on the mental health and wellbeing of their Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff.”
A Commonwealth for the People: Three-part video series
The Commonwealth Foundation’s critical conversations answer pressing questions about the Commonwealth's future through a three-part video series, ten years after a major report called for a radical rethink of the organisation.
Hosted by award-winning Kenyan journalist Victoria Rubadiri, each episode features a range of speakers, from young Commonwealth activists to government officials debating the future of the Commonwealth and what is needed to secure its long-term relevance, its role in overcoming challenges facing Commonwealth people today, including the climate crisis and the pandemic response.
The Parliamentarian: Journal
The Parliamentarian is the quarterly journal of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments.
It contains articles, analyses and bibliographical information on parliamentary, political and constitutional developments written by Speakers, Ministers, Members of Parliament and parliamentary officials involved in the issues. Feature articles written by Members of Parliament, renowned academic experts and parliamentary staff are written for colleagues on current issues that affect the international parliamentary community to share their experience and expertise across the Commonwealth. The publication also features parliamentary reports on legislative affairs, news and updates from across the CPA.