Commonwealth Foundation

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

‘Fifty-six pieces. One alone can’t cover. Stitched together we are like no other.’ Watch Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh’s performance of ‘How to Make a Commonwealth Quilt’, cited at Westminster Abbey during the 2026 Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration. In this moving piece, Selina reflects on how the many stories, histories and cultures of the Commonwealth come together like pieces of a quilt, each block is unique, yet stronger when stitched together. Watch now via @RoyalCWSociety youtube.com/watch?v=A58kQf…

‘A world governed, however imperfectly, by common rules is safer than one in which power alone determines outcomes.’ - H.E. Fatou Bensouda As global politics grow more uncertain, what role should the Commonwealth and civil society play in shaping a more stable and cooperative future? Last week, over 1,000 people joined this conversation. Now you can watch it on demand. Watch the recording of ‘The Commonwealth in a Changing World: Civil Society, Cooperation, and the Future of Multilateralism': youtube.com/watch?v=K9WAd6… Featuring contributions from: H.E. Fatou Bensouda Heba Aly Samir Puri @purisamir1 Satara Uthayakumaran Razmi Farook

In a changing global landscape, cooperation cannot be taken for granted. Today’s Critical Conversation highlighted the vital role that civil society, small states and global institutions can play in shaping the future of multilateralism. Thank you to our speakers and participants for an engaging discussion. If you missed it or want to revisit the discussion, the recording is available here: facebook.com/commonwealthor…

‘We can harness our demographic power. Over 60% of the population of the Commonwealth is under 30… We can translate what young people are demanding on the ground into hard diplomatic action, because we have that asset at our fingertips.’ — Satara Uthayakumaran The Commonwealth’s youth are a vital asset for shaping global cooperation. Join the conversation live: facebook.com/commonwealthor…

Dr Samir Puri reflects on the Commonwealth’s unique role in today’s evolving global landscape: ‘The Commonwealth brings together a significant quorum of people — ministers, governments, states, presidents, Prime Ministers, monarchs […] There is a degree of consensus within the huge community of the Commonwealth […] it’s convening power is an absolutely fantastic attribute.’ Join us live: facebook.com/commonwealthor…

‘The weak, as well as the strong, must be able to look to international norms as a source of protection… In an already unstable world, arbitrariness is a dangerous basis on which to organise international life.’ — H.E. Fatou Bensouda on why international law remains essential in today’s geopolitical landscape. Join us live now: facebook.com/commonwealthor…

We’re live at today’s Critical Conversation on ‘The Commonwealth in a Changing World: Civil Society Cooperation & the Future of Multilateralism’. At a time of shifting global power, rising nationalism and declining trust in institutions, global challenges require cooperation more urgently than ever. Today we ask: what should international cooperation look like in this new era? Join us live now: facebook.com/commonwealthor…

Are you joining us for this? 🔜 The Commonwealth in a Changing World: Civil Society, Cooperation, and the Future of Multilateralism. The event starts in one hour. Hundreds are already tuning in to hear society leaders, government representatives and thinkers explore how the Commonwealth can strengthen international cooperation, rebuild trust, and support collective action in a changing global landscape. Watch live on Facebook at commonwealthorg: facebook.com/commonwealthor…

Yesterday at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, Commonwealth Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh performed her new poem, ‘How to Make a Commonwealth Quilt.’ In the poem, Selina brings together all 56 Commonwealth countries, stitching their stories, histories and cultures into a single work that reflects the richness and diversity of the Commonwealth. ‘Bring your gold. Bring your grief. Your yet-to-be told stories. Your belief. Lay them here — stone and silk. This is how we make a Commonwealth quilt.’ You can now read ‘How to Make a Commonwealth Quilt’ on our online magazine, adda: addastories.org/how-to-make-a-…