The CSC Governance Network, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, held its annual conference, ‘The Commonwealth and Reform of International Institutions: Towards a consensus on global governance’ on 7-9 March. The timing of the conference also enabled participants to attend the Commonwealth Day 60th anniversary Observance and celebrations.

The conference highlighted areas in which the Commonwealth could be making a greater contribution to issues affecting developing countries. Matthew Albert, Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Caucus, emphasised the need for young citizens to be represented and to influence policies that impact upon their status and welfare.

In the final session, High Commissioners of Mauritius and Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the Honorary Consul of Kiribati, highlighted the unique opportunity that the Commonwealth provides in giving a voice to small island states in the corridors of international institutions, where decisions are made that have global impacts.

The discussions and outputs from the conference have been drawn together into an official report.