About us

The Commonwealth Foundation. A Resource for Civil Society and a Voice for Change.

The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation, resourced by and reporting to Commonwealth governments, and guided by Commonwealth values and priorities.

Our mandate is to strengthen civil society in the achievement of Commonwealth priorities - democracy and good governance, respect for human rights and gender equality, poverty eradication and sustainable, people-centred development, and to promote arts and culture.

The Commonwealth Foundation was established by Heads of Governments in 1965. Membership of the Foundation is open to all members of the Commonwealth and currently stands at 46 governments. Associate Membership, which is open to associated states or overseas territories of member governments, has been granted to Gibraltar. 2005 saw celebrations for the Foundation's 40th Anniversary. The Foundation is headquartered in Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London, and has no other offices. Regular liaison and cooperation between the Secretariat and the Foundation is in place.

The Foundation continues to serve the broad purposes for which it was established as written in the Memorandum of Understanding:

"The purposes and areas of interest of the Foundation will be the administration of funds for increasing interchanges between Commonwealth organisations of the skilled or learned professions or skilled auxiliary occupations in order to maintain and improve standards of knowledge, attainment and conduct; and between non-governmental organisations of a voluntary rather than a strictly professional character throughout the Commonwealth. The Foundation's areas of interest will also extend to include culture, information and the media, rural development, social welfare and the handicapped, and the role of women.

"Within this broad framework, the functions of the Foundation will:

  • To support attendance at conferences, seminars, symposia, workshops, short courses and other such activities
  • To assist professional and other non-governmental bodies at the national, regional and Commonwealth level;
  • To facilitate advisory, exchange and study visits and training attachments;
  • To stimulate the flow of information between professional and other non-governmental bodies;
  • To stimulate and support any other activities which fall within the Foundation's areas of interest by any other means that may be thought fit by the Board."

Therefore the Vision of the Commonwealth Foundation is:

"Commonwealth civil society contributing to national and international goals for democracy, sustainable development and cultural diversity for the benefit of all people."