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HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INTERIM REPORT

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The publishers wish to thank all the Text and volume copyright: Commonwealth individuals and organisations who have Business Communications Limited, or as contributed to the publication. otherwise stated. Reproduction in whole 123 Buckingham Palace Road, or part of any contents of this publication London, SW1W 9SH United Kingdom Chairman: Nigel Barklem (either in print form or electronically) without Tel: +44 (0)20 7871 0199 Publisher: Deep Marwa prior permission is strictly prohibited. The www.commonwealthcbc.com Managing Publisher: Alex Halpin information contained in this publication has been published in good faith and the opinions Managing Editor: Jane Nethersole Commonwealth Business Communications herein are those of the authors and not of publish a range of publications. Sub Editor: Gemma Malone Commonwealth Business Communications For more information please contact Commercial Director: Michael Malcolm Limited. The Publisher cannot accept Michael Malcolm, Commercial Director: Commercial Managers: responsibility for any error or misinterpretation [email protected] James Johnston, David Friel based on this information and neither do they Designer: Daniel Brown endorse any of the products advertised herein. 4 24 22 20 18 Mlambo-Ngcuka, Phumzile 16 12 10 8 GOOD GOVERNANCE 7 CONTENTS Introduction Executive Director, UN Women Women UN Director, Executive Assembly ofAssembly Cameroon Speaker,Parliamentary and Association Deputy National Chairperson, Commonwealth Lifaka, Monjowa Emilia Association President, Commonwealth Lawyers H Speers, Brian Minister, Leone Chief Sierra JFrancis, David Lanka Sri President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary-General, Deputy J. Mohammed, Amina Prime Minister, Rowley, TrinidadKeith & Tobago Lord Howell of Guildford United Nations United Deputy Chair, The Elders The Chair, Deputy Ki-moon, Ban Commonwealth Evolving an in Democracy and Parliaments Commonwealth the Across Justice to Access Leone Sierra in Leadership of Direction A New future driven knowledge- and apeople-centric Creating Lanka: Sri for Priorities Policy Making Decision- of Centre the at Women Putting Goals Global the for Urgency A Renewed Threats Greatest Mankind's Fighting Future Global Pandemic aPost- Key is Securing to Multilateralism

28 ICT &INNOVATION 38 36 34 Bangladesh: Digital 32 30 Chairman, Commonwealth Centre for Digital Health Professor Vajira HW Dissanayake, Learning President and Kanwar, CEO,Asha Commonwealth of GSMA Director-General, Granryd, Mats Prime Minister, Hasina, Bangladesh Sheikh Telecommunication Union International Secretary-General, Zhao, Houlin Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Gisa Fuatai Purcell, Secretary-General, Acting Towards a Digital Commonwealth Towards aDigital Technologies Digital with Systems Health Strengthening Learning Online and Distance with Systems Education Resilient Building COVID-19 the to Crisis Response in Technology Mobile Leveraging SDGs the Key ICTsWhy Achieving are to The key ‘new to our The normal’

Credit: International Telecommunication Union 56 54 52 48 46 44 42 TRADE &ECONOMICGROWTH Organization of the United Nations Agriculture and Food Director-General, Dongyu, Qu Dr Bank World Infrastructure, for President Vice Diop, Makhtar Common Market for and Eastern Africa Southern Kapwepwe, Secretary-General, Mpundu Chileshe Union African Industry, Commissioner for Trade and Muchanga, M. Albert UK ActionAid Girish Menon, Executive, Chief Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific the and Asia for Commission Social United Nations and Secretary, Executive Economic and Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General, World Trade Organization Director-General, Azevêdo, Roberto The role of trade role The All: for Nutrition Sustainable and Diverse Securing development inclusive and to sustainable the continent Connecting Africa: in Transport integration economic digital Towards Trade Free Area: COMESA Digital trading for Preparing Trade Free Area: Continental African The Era COVID-19 Post the in Technology Trade and Commonwealth commitment Trade: Realising the Responsive Gender future COVID-19:Trade and Delivering a common

60 ENVIRONMENT &CLIMATE CHANGE 70 68 64 62 Thomson, Peter Government Forum Commonwealth Local Secretary-General, Munro, Greg Development Bank Caribbean President, Smith, Warren William Dr Nations United the to Representative Permanent Belize and States Island Small of Alliance Chair, MYoung, Lois Seychelles of Republic Danny Faure, President, the Ocean The Road to Blue-Green Recovery Blue-Green to Road The Commonwealth the in Urbanisation Sustainable development sustainable Caribbean for path A critical Disasters: Natural to Resilience Enhancing shocks to systematic islands of small vulnerability the Addressing Challenges: Big Islands, Small Our common wealth Environment: Our Protect We Must UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for for Envoy Special Secretary-General’s UN CONTENTS

5 Credit: Government of Seychelles CONTENTS

YOUTH & EDUCATION

72 Tackling Youth Unemployment in the Commonwealth Guy Ryder, Director-General, International Labour Organization

76 Youth Employment, Skills and Entrepreneurship for Africa’s Development Akinwumi A Adesina, President, African Development Bank Group

78 Global Education Post COVID-19: The importance of multilateralism Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, UNESCO

80 Investing in the Future: Education in the post- pandemic world Julia Gillard, Board Chair, Global Partnership for Education

82 Educating Girls: It’s time to match ambition with progress Malala Yousafzai, UN Messenger of Peace and

Co-Founder, Malala Fund Organization Labour International Credit:

With sincere thanks to our supporters

ABSA Group Caribbean Catastrophe CRDB Bank Risk Insurance Facility

KCB Foundation SBL Knowledge Services Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa

6 INTRODUCTION

Introduction

The postponement of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, on 22 – 27 June 2020, is unfortunate but understandable. Even though Heads of Government are unable to meet face-to-face this month, we can still progress the aspirations of the Meeting by connecting, innovating and transforming, and by leveraging the Commonwealth Advantage to counter the economic fallout of COVID-19. In the circumstances it seems appropriate to release the Report now whilst its relevance remains most topical, rather than to await a reconvened event.

The impact of COVID-19 is being felt in every corner of the world, with leaders across the Commonwealth’s 54 nations facing unprecedented challenges. To minimise the devastating socio-economic impacts of the pandemic, it is essential that we put aside nationalism and work together in the common interest of all humanity. As such, the values and aspirations of the Commonwealth remain as important as ever. Member countries have committed to work together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace, amplify the voice of small states, and protect the environment. We must not lose sight of these goals, nor of the need for cooperation and solidarity.

It was inevitable that the scheduled Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting would be deferred because of the Covid19 epidemic and it is to be hoped that a new date can be determined as soon as is feasible. Nevertheless, it is appropriate that this Report, prepared before the virus took hold, should be distributed now as a reminder of the great advantages that the Commonwealth brings to its members.

The agenda for the deferred event will be heavily influenced by recent global experience and no doubt, by the realisation that changes to networks, systems and procedures will be enduring consequences of the challenges faced by all countries. A key change that might be anticipated is that cooperation between countries will be an increasingly crucial factor in foreign policy. The modern Commonwealth is ideally characterised and equipped to thrive in the re-setting of how business will be done in this new World.

I am enthused by the evident optimism expressed by the individual contributors to this Report and I have no doubt that a future version, prepared to coincide with the rescheduled Heads of Government Meeting and with the experience of Covid 19 as a backdrop, will similarly recognise and support the relevance of this exceptional partnership of like-minded countries.

We look forward to a time when Heads of Government can once again convene face- to-face. In the meantime, we hope you find this publication beneficial.

Lord Howell of Guildford

7 GOOD GOVERNANCE

Multilateralism is Key to Securing a Post-Pandemic Global Future

Ban Ki-moon is the Deputy Chair of The Elders and previously served as the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations. He strongly believes that countries around the world must unite in a multilateral commitment to address the COVID-19 pandemic with sustained vision and compassion for the common interest of all humanity.

for an additional US$2 billion in equitable response to COVID-19. I urge humanitarian aid to tackle the all country leaders to consider how to pandemic, and for a global ceasefire develop a global governance system to prevent the spread of the virus in that can cope more effectively with any conflict zones. pandemics that may occur in the future. The UN Security Council set a good Writing as a member of The Elders, precedent during the Ebola crisis the group of independent leaders by declaring it to be a serious threat founded by Nelson Mandela, I hope Ban Ki-moon, to international peace and security. all those now in power can follow Deputy Chair, The Elders COVID-19 is an even bigger threat, Mandela’s example and act with vision and demands even greater, sustained and compassion to overcome this crisis. leadership from the Council. They should recommit to the values This public health crisis should not of the UN Charter, and use other OVID-19 is a challenge to global be politicised. It would be unforgivable multilateral bodies including the G20, Cleaders without precedent in if the narrow and partisan interests of the International Monetary Fund and living memory. Its impact will be felt some permanent members undermine the World Bank, to proactively support in every corner of the world, from the efforts to build a global consensus the world’s most vulnerable populations. tragically high number of deaths to for peace at this time of existential It is encouraging that G20 leaders economic depression and the prospect crisis. If conflicts around the world are have committed to implementing any of a radical restructuring of how made worse by disease, depression and necessary measures to stop the spread goods, capital and people move from famine, all of us will lose. of the virus and to inject US$5 trillion one country to another. Every part of the UN, from the into the global economy. Leaders must urgently put aside Security Council and General Assembly But, these pledges need to be narrow nationalism and short term, to the WHO and other humanitarian translated into immediate, proactive selfish considerations to work together agencies, needs to work together assistance to vulnerable countries in in the common interest of all humanity. and be adequately resourced. Other Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. As a former Secretary-General multilateral organisations like The At the time of writing, countries here of the UN, I support the call from Commonwealth can also play a valuable are not yet bearing the full brunt of my successor António Guterres role in coordinating an effective and the pandemic, but it could wreak an

8 GOOD GOVERNANCE

“If the world can show the necessary courage and leadership today, we will be better placed to tackle equally grave challenges tomorrow.”

even more devastating toll than the most urgently needed. poorer states remain ravaged, with their already tragic consequences in China, COVID-19 shines a harsh light on citizens excluded and subject to new Europe and North America. the many profound inequalities that forms of discrimination. To ensure an effective recovery, scar our planet. Disparities of wealth Even before COVID-19 took hold, this cooperation will need to be between and within countries now we were confronted by the existential strengthened and sustained for some risk being exacerbated even further threats of climate change and nuclear time. It is also crucial that border by the pandemic. weapons. In January 2020, I attended restrictions and closures, and pre- Similarly, the constraints many the unveiling of the ‘Doomsday existing sanctions for countries like countries have imposed on movement Clock’ in Washington DC, when the Iran, that has been severely hit by and assembly are understandable clock was moved closer to midnight the pandemic, do not prevent critical and necessary under the current than ever before. medical equipment and supplies from circumstances, but legislators and The prospect of a similar being transported to where they are the judiciary must bear in mind that, confrontation between two or more if not carefully addressed, they risk nuclear-armed powers should horrify accentuating the marginalisation of us all but is dangerously real, as we saw vulnerable groups such as refugees, in 2019 between India and Pakistan migrants and racial minorities. over Kashmir. Such tensions call for Respect for human rights, solidarity responsible global leadership and a and justice need to be at the heart careful, concerted attempt to strengthen “Multilateral of our response to COVID-19. We multilateral frameworks around nuclear organisations like all have a responsibility as global disarmament and non-proliferation. The Commonwealth citizens to stay vigilant and not allow The Doomsday Clock is still authoritarian regimes to exploit ticking, and these threats have been can play a valuable the crisis to roll back rights and further aggravated since the outbreak role in coordinating democratic safeguards. of COVID-19. But, if the world an effective and Otherwise, we risk the prospect of can show the necessary courage a future in which rich countries have and leadership today, we will be equitable response to recovered and reinstate ‘normal’ patterns better placed to tackle equally grave COVID-19.” of social and economic interaction, but challenges tomorrow.

9 COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2020

The latest in our series of annual publications, The Commonwealth Education Report 2020 will feature a series of commissioned articles from leading education experts including Heads of Government, Ministers of Education and high-level representatives within UN agencies, Commonwealth organisations, NGOs and the education sector.

It will discuss some of the Commonwealth’s most pressing education challenges, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and look at effective strategies to help Commonwealth member states achieve the ambitions of Sustainable Development Goal 4:

“Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”

Published Autumn 2020

To explore the various opportunities available for participation, please contact our Commercial Director, Michael Malcolm [email protected] | +44 (0)207 871 0199 HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INTERIM REPORT

THE COMMONWEALTH REPRESENTING 54 NATIONS ACROSS SIX CONTINENTS, ONE-FIFTH OF GLOBAL TRADE AND ONE-THIRD OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION.

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