Commonwealth Foundation

Every five years, we lay out a new plan of action for how we’ll support civil society across the Commonwealth to meet the world’s most complex challenges. Our mission is clear: equip communities with the democratic, economic and climate resilience they need to respond to a rapidly shifting global landscape marked by rising inequality, more frequent economic shocks and geopolitical tensions. It is in this context that we have developed our new 5-Year Strategic Plan (2026–2031). It sets out how we will support civil society, grassroots communities and creative practitioners to take collective action and shape discourse and policy in Commonwealth states. In the coming weeks, we’ll explore on this channel how we can meet this moment to strengthen civic infrastructure and ecosystems together. 📄 Read the full plan: commonwealthfoundation.com/strategic-plan…

We're seeking a civil society representative from the Pacific region to join the Commonwealth Foundation as an Advisory Governor until June 2027. Our Civil Society Advisory Governors bring regional perspectives and expertise to the Foundation's Board of Governors, helping ensure our work reflects the priorities and experiences of civil society across the Commonwealth. This is a voluntary role (reasonable expenses are covered) requiring approximately half a day each month, plus occasional travel. Applications close at 1pm BST on 27 July 2026. Learn more about the role and apply: commonwealthfoundation.com/job_vacancy/ci… Please consider applying or sharing this opportunity with your networks.

How can civil society help shape the future of the Commonwealth? Ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth People's Forum in Antigua and Barbuda this November, our Director-General joined @abstvradio to discuss preparations for the Forum, its aims, and how this year's CHOGM theme (Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth) will be reflected throughout the programme. 📺 Watch the interview live at 8pm AST (12am GMT): facebook.com/abstvradio/liv…

We provide grants for projects that strengthen collaboration between civil society and decision-makers and support more inclusive and effective policy processes. The call for applications will open later this year. Learn more here: commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/annual

The 2026 Commonwealth People’s Forum will take place in Antigua and Barbuda this November. The People’s Forum is an important part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, bringing together citizens from across the Commonwealth to exchange ideas, celebrate diverse cultures, and help shape policy and practice. The discussions held at the Forum will help shape our engagements with Commonwealth leaders. Register for updates and learn how you can participate: actionnetwork.org/forms/stay-upd…

Do you work to influence policy or engage decision-makers? Our grants programme funds civil society organisations across the Commonwealth. We provide up to £60,000 for projects lasting up to two years. Applicants should have at least three years’ experience in advocacy and participatory governance. The next grant call will open later this year. Sign up here to learn more: commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/annual

Submissions for the Commonwealth Quilt have now closed. We received more than 1,000 creative interpretations of the theme ‘Thread.’ Thank you to everyone across the Commonwealth who shared their creativity, stories and perspectives. All submissions will now be reviewed before being displayed in the virtual Commonwealth Quilt. A selection of works will also be exhibited in Antigua and Barbuda during the 2026 Commonwealth People’s Forum. Stay tuned for the launch of the virtual quilt and the journey towards the People’s Forum: actionnetwork.org/forms/stay-upd…

Across Asia, civil society organisations are building more inclusive and accountable communities. Since 2021, we’ve supported 45 projects helping organisations strengthen participation, influence policy and respond to local challenges. In India, Best Practices Foundation @BestPracFound supported LGBTQ+ communities and sex workers to access healthcare services and assert their rights. In Bangladesh, Badabon Sangho @badabonsangho helped women fisherfolk strengthen their visibility and advocate for greater inclusion in climate decision-making. In Sri Lanka, Transparency International @tisrilanka supported citizens to demand greater transparency in health procurement through anti-corruption training and public engagement. We fund projects in eligible Commonwealth countries across Asia. Learn more: commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/annual

Director-General Razmi Farook joined the Commonwealth Health Coordination Forum in Geneva alongside Professor Stephen Montefort, High Commissioner of Malta to the UK. Discussions focused on the growing challenge cancer poses across the Commonwealth and the importance of addressing inequities in diagnosis, treatment, access to medicines, and care. The Foundation emphasised the important role civil society organisations play in strengthening outreach, building trust, and ensuring health responses remain connected to the realities communities face. @MaltainUK @commonwealthsec

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mohamed Nasser Mohamed, whose story was shortlisted for the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. His gifted storytelling moved and impressed our judges, and we are honoured that he shared his work with the Prize this year.

Across the Caribbean, civil society organisations are driving real change. Since 2021, we’ve supported 40 projects helping organisations influence policy and develop locally led solutions to regional challenges. In Guyana, Policy Forum Guyana developed animations, influencer toolkits, and education materials for their ‘One Point Five Degrees Celsius’ campaign. Their work helped secure agreements with government ministries to integrate environmental education into the national curriculum, while also building partnerships with UNICEF and regional youth climate networks. We’ve also seen progress in health advocacy. In Barbados, the Association of Endometriosis & P.C.O.S. (@Endoandpcosbb) carried out detailed research on access to treatment, strengthening their role in national policy discussions. And in the Bahamas, the Organization for Responsible Governance Foundation used their grant to develop a monitoring and evaluation framework, improving how they measure and demonstrate their impact on accountable governance. Together, these efforts are helping civil society build resilience, strengthen its voice, and drive meaningful change. Every year, we invite eligible civil society organisations to apply for grants funding. Learn more here: commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/annual

What does it mean to come together across 56 nations? As we look ahead to the Commonwealth People’s Forum in Antigua and Barbuda this November, Selina Tusitala Marsh’s poem ‘Uncommon Banyan II’ explores how connection, creativity and dialogue shape the Commonwealth. She imagines it as a living, interconnected banyan tree, rooted in shared histories and growing through the stories and perspectives it holds. Read the poem on our online magazine, adda: addastories.org/uncommon-banya… Illustration: Ropate Kama

Ancestral thread. Common thread. Everyday thread. Mending thread. Across the Commonwealth, invisible threads run through our lives, carrying memory, identity and change. Each one is different, but together they connect us. What does your thread hold? Reflect on the prompts in the slides and share your interpretation. Your piece will become part of the Commonwealth Quilt, a shared creative work shaped by voices across 56 nations. Submissions close 9 June. Submit to the Commonwealth quilt here: commonwealthfoundation.com/how-to-make-a-…

Since 2021, we’ve funded 26 projects across the Pacific, supporting civil society organisations in small island states to strengthen resilience, amplify community voices and influence policy. Our partners championed innovative, community-led approaches to some of the region’s most pressing challenges. We fund projects in eligible Commonwealth countries across the Pacific. Learn more here: commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/annual

Our grants programme funds projects that bring civil society and decision-makers together to help shape policy and drive meaningful change. Project funding lasts for up to two years. Not-for-profit civil society organisations registered in eligible Commonwealth countries, with at least 3 years’ experience in participatory governance and advocacy, are eligible to apply. Our next call for applications will open later this year. Learn more and register for grants updates: commonwealthfoundation.com/grants/annual

We are thrilled to announce the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize shortlist. The international panel of judges has selected 25 writers from a pool of 7,806 entrants. Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, Razmi Farook, said: ‘Congratulations to all the shortlisted writers. Each year, the Prize becomes more competitive, and this year’s shortlist reflects the remarkable creativity found across our Commonwealth. Storytelling continues to play a vital role, offering space for voices and perspectives that help us better understand one another and imagine a more hopeful, inclusive future.’  The full shortlist is listed below. Follow @cwfcreatives for detailed coverage of the prize. Africa region: Lois Akoma Antwi (Ghana) Ken Odak Odumbe (Kenya) Dawn Immanuel (Nigeria) Hussani Abdulrahim (Nigeria) Ola W. Halim (Nigeria) Oluwatoke Adejoye (Nigeria) Lisa-Anne Julien (South Africa) Asia region: Anmana Manishita (Bangladesh) Shazed Ul Hoq Abir (Bangladesh) Rafaa Dalvi (India) Rupsa Dey (India) Sharon Aruparayil (India) Mohamed Nasser Mohamed (Malaysia) Jacqueline Chang (Singapore) Canada and Europe region: John Edward DeMicoli (Malta) Alison Armstrong (UK) Jennifer Harvey (UK) Caribbean region: Cosmata Lindie (Guyana) Celeste Mohammed (Trinidad and Tobago) Jamir Nazir (Trinidad and Tobago) Jason Dookeran (Trinidad and Tobago) Jochelle Greaves Siew (Trinidad and Tobago) Roger-Mark De Souza (Trinidad and Tobago) Pacific region: M.S. Bhatia (Australia) Holly Ann Miller (New Zealand) Learn more about the writers: commonwealthfoundation.com/short-story-pr…

What does it mean to be connected across 56 countries? In ‘How to Make a Commonwealth Quilt’, Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh brings together the voices, histories and cultures of the Commonwealth into a single poetic work. The poem is a patchwork of 56 pieces, one for each Commonwealth country. Woven together, they reflect shared stories and global connections. It was performed at the Commonwealth Day service in London. Selina’s work is the inspiration behind the Commonwealth Quilt, our global open call inviting creative responses to the theme ‘Thread’ across visual, literary and performance art. Read the poem on our online magazine, adda: addastories.org/how-to-make-a-…

How do art and culture connect us across oceans, cultures and communities? Your answer could form part of the Commonwealth Quilt. We’re inviting creative submissions inspired by the prompt ‘Thread’ across visual, literary and performance art ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth People’s Forum. Selected works will be exhibited in Antigua and Barbuda, with £200 awarded to chosen entries from each region. This is a chance to add your voice to a global tapestry. 🔗 Find out more via the link in bio, or visit: commonwealthfoundation.com/how-to-make-a-…

'This is an opportunity to demonstrate the continued value of Commonwealth cooperation. At a time when multilateralism is under strain, the Commonwealth has a unique role to play in fostering collaboration and shared solutions.' Commonwealth Foundation Director-General Razmi Farook was speaking on the importance of the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at an event organised by the Malta High Commission @MaltainUK and Kaleidoscope Trust @Kaleidoscope_T. Razmi also discussed how the Foundation will seek to advance human rights through the People’s Forum, and how to ensure civil society shapes outcomes from CHOGM. 📷: Kaleidoscope Trust

This week, we hosted a strategic workshop with @commonwealthorg to explore joint delivery initiatives. Senior leaders from both organisations discussed key areas where we can strengthen collaboration, including: 📈 Debt sustainability and economic inclusion 👩🏾‍💻 Digital inclusivity 🌱 Advocacy on youth and climate 🌎 Environmental justice & the needs of small states At the heart of the Commonwealth family are three intergovernmental organisations working to support member countries: the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Commonwealth of Learning (@COL4D). Discover more 👉: bit.ly/4uYq7KA