HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INTERIM REPORT
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HEADS OF GOVERNMENT
INTERIM REPORT
INCLUDES PERSPECTIVES FROM
Akinwumi Adesina | Albert M Muchanga | Amina J Mohammed | Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana | Asha Kanwar
Audrey Azoulay | Ban Ki-moon | Danny Faure | David J Francis | Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Julia Gillard | Keith Rowley | Peter Thomson | Roberto Azevêdo | Sheikh Hasina | William Warren Smith
HEADS OF GOVERNMENT
INTERIM REPORT
Published by:
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CONTENTS
7 Introduction
Lord Howell of Guildford
GOOD GOVERNANCE ICT & INNOVATION
8 Multilateralism is Key to Securing a Post- 28 Towards a Digital Commonwealth
Pandemic Global Future
Gisa Fuatai Purcell, Acting Secretary-General,
Ban Ki-moon, Deputy Chair, The Elders Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation
10 Fighting Mankind's Greatest Threats 30 Why ICTs are Key to Achieving the SDGs
Keith Rowley, Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago
Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General, International
Telecommunication Union
12 A Renewed Urgency for the Global Goals
Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, 32 Digital Bangladesh: The key to our ‘new normal’
United Nations Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister, Bangladesh
16 Putting Women at the Centre of Decision- 34 Leveraging Mobile Technology in Response
Making to the COVID-19 Crisis
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Mats Granryd, Director-General, GSMA
Executive Director, UN Women
36 Building Resilient Education Systems with
18 Policy Priorities for Sri Lanka: Distance and Online Learning
Creating a people-centric and knowledge-
Asha Kanwar, President and CEO, Commonwealth of
driven future Learning
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President, Sri Lanka
38 Strengthening Health Systems with Digital
20 A New Direction of Leadership in Sierra Technologies
Leone
Professor Vajira HW Dissanayake,
David J Francis, Chief Minister, Sierra Leone Chairman, Commonwealth Centre for Digital Health
22 Access to Justice Across the Commonwealth
Brian H Speers, President, Commonwealth Lawyers
Association
Telecommunication Union
24 Parliaments and Democracy in an Evolving
Credit: International
Commonwealth
Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, Chairperson, Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association and Deputy Speaker, National
Assembly of Cameroon
4
CONTENTS
TRADE & ECONOMIC GROWTH ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE
42 Trade and COVID-19: Delivering a common 60 The Road to Blue-Green Recovery
future Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for
Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General, the Ocean
World Trade Organization
62 We Must Protect Our Environment:
44 Gender Responsive Trade: Realising the Our common wealth
Commonwealth commitment Danny Faure, President, Republic of Seychelles
Girish Menon, Chief Executive, ActionAid UK
64 Small Islands, Big Challenges: Addressing
46 Trade and Technology in the Post COVID-19 the vulnerability of small islands to systematic
Era shocks
rmida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General,
A Lois M Young, Chair, Alliance of Small Island States and
United Nations and Executive Secretary, Economic and Belize Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
68 Enhancing Resilience to Natural Disasters:
48 The African Continental Free Trade Area: A critical path for Caribbean sustainable
Preparing for trading development
Albert M. Muchanga, Commissioner for Trade and Dr William Warren Smith, President, Caribbean
Industry, African Union Development Bank
52 COMESA Digital Free Trade Area: Towards 70 Sustainable Urbanisation in the
digital economic integration Commonwealth
Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, Secretary-General,
Greg Munro, Secretary-General, Commonwealth Local
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Government Forum
54 Transport in Africa: Connecting the continent
to sustainable and inclusive development
Credit: Government of Seychelles
Makhtar Diop, Vice President for Infrastructure, World Bank
56 Securing Diverse and Sustainable Nutrition
for All: The role of trade
Dr Qu Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations
5
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
Credit: International Labour Organization
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
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
C OVID-19 is a challenge to global
leaders without precedent in
living memory. Its impact will be felt
be politicised. It would be unforgivable
if the narrow and partisan interests of
some permanent members undermine
multilateral bodies including the G20,
the International Monetary Fund and
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
GOOD GOVERNANCE
Fighting Mankind's
Greatest Threats
Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, deems the COVID-19 pandemic
and climate change to be among the biggest threats ever to face mankind. He calls for
governments to act now to help reduce the devastating impacts of these public health,
economic and environmental crises.
Dr Keith Rowley, and global warming brought grave terms of famine, plague and war –
Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago predictions of impending ecological all once seen as the work of angry
collapse. There were also concerns gods, malicious demons or nature’s
of over-population and over- incomprehensible handiwork, but at
consumption in the face of famine, the dawn of the decade, turbulences
A t the point of writing, the world as
we know it appears to be travelling
through a dark, meandering tunnel.
food shortages and poverty, alongside
the dread of infectious diseases and
the rumblings among nations, raising
were being confronted and
transformed into solvable challenges.
While billions of people still remained
We continued with various ongoing fears of intense military conflicts. hungry and malnourished, some
challenges at the opening of the In short, global concerns could surviving on less than US$2 a day,
decade. Threats of climate change have been summarised in the familiar advances in the field of medicine, for
instance, converted the critical AIDS
crisis from a patient’s death sentence to a
manageable, survivable condition.
Continuing human achievement
and technological developments,
for example in information and
biotechnology, suggested that our eyes
should turn to an evolving digital life in
the ‘infosphere’ and horizons beyond.
It was felt that over the past century,
the march of socioeconomic, political
and technological developments had
created human progress so significant
that with big data at hand, we had
begun to convert ourselves into digital
humans and now warranting new
human agendas.
We, in the Commonwealth –
comprising almost one-third of
the world’s population – were not
untouched by these universal issues.
We started off 2020 grappling with a
broad agenda, inter alia, anticipating
a post-Brexit world; the digital gap
and economic transformation of
member states; human rights and good
governance; the strengthening of our
10GOOD GOVERNANCE
“Neither the threat
of the virus nor
climate change should
be given single or
preferential attention
on the global agenda,
but both be pursued
with equal zeal.”
national security systems; measures to unworkable and they might not be its global spread, death toll and social
combat cybersecurity and terrorism – effective until way into 2021. Far effects, particularly in underdeveloped
while maintaining international peace, worst, would be the human costs. The countries. The virus now has
the fundamentals of our democracies, spread and daily increase in death prominence alongside climate change
the promotion of gender and youth tolls brought, established healthcare on the global agenda, and the UN
equality and the overall upholding of systems in some developed countries, Secretary-General has also determined
our common values. to near collapse with many countries that “both require a determined
In the biennial Commonwealth fearing that their essential social fabric response. Both must be defeated”.
Heads of Government meeting, could be destroyed. My position stands alongside that
originally scheduled for June 2020, To explain, some commentators of the Secretary-General. I believe
it was proposed that leaders working sought parallels in the ‘Black Death’ of the fight must continue on both
under the theme ‘Delivering A the 1330s, 20th century phenomena as fronts. Neither the threat of the virus
Common Future: Connecting, the Spanish Flu, the ‘Great Depression’, nor climate change should be given
Innovating, Transforming’, would the outbreak of Bird Flu, Swine Flu single or preferential attention on the
make fundamental adjustments to and Ebola, concluding that depending global agenda, but both be pursued
these pressing issues on the agenda. on the length and depth or eventual with equal zeal. I also share his call
Then came the novel COVID-19 decline of COVID-19, its effects could that “we will not fight climate change
virus upending our world, pushing us be far more prolonged and have the with a virus”.
into that dark, seemingly unending worst-ever impact in modern history. However, we must not be distracted,
tunnel. The pandemic, unpredictable Because infectious diseases are for climate change has to be seen as
and unparalleled, created both public known to arrive through chance mankind’s biggest war, along with the
health and economic crises. A grim mutations in pathogens, there are urgent issues of poverty, inequality,
spectre of a precipitous decline continuing fears that some unknown food supply and others facing every
appeared. Volatile markets, constant relative of COVID-19 could be country on every continent today.
waves of layoffs, unemployment, awaiting us in the near future. Our approach cannot be half-
bankruptcies, the collapse of small In March 2020, UN Secretary- hearted in the face of increasing
businesses and the incalculable effects General Antonio Gutteres described storms, disasters, threats of food,
on vulnerable informal economies, the pandemic as the worst crisis the water scarcity and further fears.
all carry signs of a prolonged fall in world has experienced since the second Later in 2020, The UN Climate
global economic output. world war. He also expressed fears of Change Conference is scheduled to
Within weeks, international agencies a protracted worldwide recession and be held in Scotland, at which the
acknowledged that the world economy the possibility that further international World Meteorological Organisation
had gone into recession, early conflicts could be triggered. In a wider Statement on the State of the Global
observers suggesting that its effects context, he saw it as a threat to the Climate will be considered.
could equal or be far worse than the existence of humankind itself. The physical evidence is clear.
financial crisis of 2008. We expect that the effects of Climate change must be seen as
It was said that economic recovery COVID-19 will be assessed eventually, mankind’s next manageable challenge
efforts, in the short run, could prove not only in economic terms, but also in and the world must act now.
11GOOD GOVERNANCE
A Renewed Urgency for the
Global Goals
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, calls on
Commonwealth Heads of Government to urgently focus on economic transformation,
climate action, poverty eradication and gender equality. She explains how, while recovering
from the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN’s Decade of Action for the Global Goals represents an
opportunity for a new phase of accelerated action that leaves no one behind.
But even before the COVID-19 with stronger and more resilient
pandemic, it was clear that the communities and societies.
promise of the 17 Sustainable There has been progress since 2015,
Development Goals (SDGs) had not however, and none of that is wasted.
translated into sufficient change at the Many countries have aligned their
scale and speed needed to eradicate national policies with the SDGs and
poverty, reduce emissions, create jobs there is a fresh wave of new partnerships
and achieve gender equality by 2030. and initiatives. Diverse companies,
Amina J. Mohammed, The social and economic impact of organisations and institutions of all
Deputy Secretary-General, COVID-19 will put us even further off kinds have embraced the Global Goals
United Nations track. The pandemic threatens to push as their blueprint, with many adopting
more people into poverty and women in green transition policies.
particular, to exacerbate climate change, As we push through this global crisis,
increase the number of unemployed we must generate the international
T he adoption of the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development in
2015 by all Commonwealth member
people, and to inflict significant
economic damage on developing
countries that do not have the financial
cooperation and solidarity needed to
support developing countries to deal
with the social and economic fallout
states was an historic achievement. tools to weather the storm. and take the necessary steps to build
The landmark agreement provided It means that we need to push back better. Front and centre of these
a roadmap for a new global effort harder for the SDGs: the policies and efforts must be women’s leadership and
to end poverty and deliver peace programmes that we know will help gender equality. We need the benefits
and prosperity for all, on a healthy us beat the pandemic and emerge of sustainable development, from
planet. on the other side of COVID-19 stronger health systems to clean energy,
12GOOD GOVERNANCE
“It is time for greater urgency, ambition and
excitement in our efforts to achieve the Global
Goals. The Decade of Action must mobilise
everyone, everywhere, individually and
collectively, locally and globally.”
to kick in as soon as possible. We measure, we are off track. The global aims of the 2030 Agenda: peace and
cannot afford to wait another ten years gender pay gap stands at an unrelenting prosperity on a healthy planet.
Take the climate crisis. 2019 20 per cent. Women still spend three Governments must lead the way with
was the second warmest year on times as many hours as men each day renewed urgency, but they simply cannot
record and levels of carbon dioxide in unpaid care and domestic work. do this alone. We need to enlarge the
concentrations continued to rise. And, only one in four parliamentarians circle and deepen the engagement of
Ocean acidity is now 26 per cent worldwide are women. COVID-19 other stakeholders, from civil society to
higher than in pre-industrial times and poses new threats to women’s rights the private sector. We need to mobilise
is projected to increase by between and freedoms as its economic impact an unstoppable movement to transform
100 and 150 per cent by 2100. falls on informal sectors where women our economies and our societies, to
On the present trajectory, our climate are over-represented. All over the deliver fair globalisation.
will warm by 3°C this century, reversing world, we are seeing an alarming and Parts of this movement are
decades of development progress and significant rise in violence against already working hard on climate, on
causing catastrophe for many around women and girls in the home. inequality and on gender equality. In
the world. The most vulnerable people We have a steep mountain to climb the next decade, I hope these various
will bear the brunt. We need immediate and time is not on our side, but I strands and efforts will step up their
action from all sectors of society believe we can still be the generation ambitions and come together in
to reduce emissions, build climate to end extreme poverty, win the race mutually reinforcing coalitions for
resilience and ensure a just transition. against climate change and conquer change. Together, they could build
The longer we delay action, the more injustice and gender inequality. an unstoppable movement pushing
difficult and more expensive it will be. This will require all of us to for greater local and national action
Time is also of the essence in our undertake the most ambitious and and for more effective international
efforts to eradicate extreme poverty concerted effort since World War II. cooperation and stronger solidarity.
and reduce inequality. Despite massive From updating national development I urge Commonwealth Heads
progress since 1990, the pace of poverty plans to realigning financing of Government to frame their
reduction is slowing down as the world frameworks, governments and all conversations for immediate action
struggles to respond to entrenched stakeholders must revitalise their on economic transformation, climate
deprivation, violent conflicts and commitments to inspiring change. action, poverty eradication and gender
vulnerability to natural disasters. Global In January 2020, UN Secretary- equality, and around supporting such
hunger, which has declined for years, is General António Guterres launched a movements for transformative change.
again on the rise, leaving more than 820 Decade of Action for the Global Goals. It is time for greater urgency,
million people around the world without It represents an opportunity to move ambition and excitement in our
enough food. The gap between rich and the world into a new stage of accelerated efforts to achieve the Global Goals.
poor is growing, with more than two- implementation, action, solidarity The Decade of Action must mobilise
thirds of all people living in countries and delivery, leaving no one behind. everyone, everywhere, individually
where inequality has worsened. The whole UN system is responding and collectively, locally and globally.
Gender equality and the rights to support countries to deal with the As you move forward, the United
of women and girls are essential COVID-19 crisis in ways that will also Nations will accompany you every
for poverty eradication. But, by any help them achieve the overarching step of the way.
13COMMONWEALTH
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
mmalcolm@commonwealthministers.com | +44 (0)207 871 0199The Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa:
Monitoring and supporting Africa’s progress towards
achievement of the SDGs.
The Sustainable Development Goals Centre
for Africa (SDGC/A) welcomes the holding of
the Commonwealth Heads of Governments
Conference here in Kigali, Rwanda and
extends its warmest appreciation to the
Head of State of the Republic of Rwanda,
H.E. President Paul Kagame, and to the
people of the Republic of Rwanda. The
generous contribution of Rwanda has
facilitated the establishment and the
operations of the Centre. The SDGC/A also
expresses gratitude to the members of its
From L to R: H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, African Union Commission
Board for the support and guidance. Chairperson; H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and
Chairperson of the SDGC/A Board and Dr. Belay Ejigu Begashaw during the
7th Board Meeting of the SDGC/A held in Kigali, Rwanda on 14 June 2019
The SDGC/A is an autonomous not-
for-profit international organization that
provides technical support, and expertise been relentlessly striding and working be transformational as opposed to
as input to national governments, the with African governments to ensure that incremental. Africa’s impact should
private sector, civil society, businesses shortcomings of past initiatives are not go beyond the continent and address
and academic institutions to accelerate repeated so as to chart the future we want challenges humanity faces on the planet.
the implementation of the Sustainable that leaves no one behind. These fundamental changes require a
Development Goals (SDGs) across change in our mindsets by inculcating a
Africa. The SDGC/A was established in The raison d’être of The SDGC/A emanates winner’s attitude. Third and finally, there is
September 2015 by a resolution of the from the generational frustrations over an urgency in addressing the challenges.
United Nations Sustainable Development the years, specifically in reference to the The cost of inaction is extremely high
Solutions Network (SDSN) Leadership lack of progress towards the sustainable and may lead to Africa falling short of its
Council, which was commissioned under development of the continent. The SDGs development goals in a disastrous manner.
the auspices of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the African Union 2063
Secretary-General. The SDGC/A was Agenda, and the African Development Achieving the SDGs will require enormous
formally established in July 2016 pursuant Bank’s High 5s pick up from where the resources. Governments need to be
to a Host Country Agreement with the millennium development goals (MDGs) innovative in designing approaches for
Government of Rwanda. The Center left the continent and all seek the same domestic resource mobilization and to
builds upon Africa’s existing successes overarching goal of inclusive development. create the fiscal space that would enable
by bringing together people, ideas and Moving forward, the Africa continent must them mobilize the kind of resources needed
innovation to collectively reach a more pursue its development keeping aside any for SDGs financing. The Commonwealth and
sustainable future. The SDGC/A aims emotions. The success of the continent’s other similar groupings have a role to play
to develop new tools to achieve the endeavours will depend on three distinct in assisting and facilitating the mobilization
visions of the UN’s SDGs and the AU’s features. of these resources. Together, let’s work for
Agenda 2063. Innovations in long-term a transformational change that leads to
planning, financing and data collection, as First, all actions must be based on sustainable development in Africa. The need
well as technical solutions in education, informed decisions. These should for innovation solutions is even more urgent
healthcare, energy and agriculture be knowledge or evidenced-based today with the global coronavirus pandemic.
systems are some of the central pillars that enable clear paths to progress to The SDGC/A which has come first will only
of the Center’s work. The SDGC/A has be chatted. Second, actions should leave last in this battle.
sdgcafrica.orgGOOD GOVERNANCE
Putting Women at the
Centre of Decision-Making
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director, is campaigning for women to
lead and participate fully in decision-making on COVID-19 response and recovery. She
insists that gender equality concerns should be embedded in the design of national policy
responses to COVID-19, to build the more equal and resilient societies that we will need
coming out of this crisis.
effective, inclusive and fair policies, recognised for their professionalism
plans and budgets to address the and compassion. In the health
pandemic. This is the time to ensure sector, women are increasingly being
that gender equality concerns are fully recognised for their effectiveness. For
embedded in our short-term responses example, the Minster of Health of the
and longer-term recovery to build the Indian state Kerala was hailed as the
more equal and resilient societies that reason that a state of 35 million people
we will need coming out of this crisis. had only lost four to the virus by the
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Until now, women have been middle of May 2020. Healthcare needs
Executive Director, UN Women sidelined from many decision- more women leaders. Less than 20 per
making structures. A 2019 UN cent of the world’s health ministers
report states that men are 75 per cent are women, yet overall, women make
of parliamentarians, 73 per cent of up 70 per cent of healthcare workers,
T he COVID-19 pandemic
has changed our world and
our world view, deepening pre-
managerial decision-makers, 72 per
cent of executives in global health
organisations, 76 per cent of the people
operating on the frontlines to deliver
essential services.
Power imbalances and false
existing inequalities, and exposing who we see, hear or read about in our stereotypes of what women can and
vulnerabilities in social, political and mainstream news media, and almost cannot do have gone on for far too long.
economic systems. Across every sphere, all (87 per cent) of the people in peace They have created reinforcing feedback
from health to the economy, security to negotiations. These figures show us loops to the point where people have
social protection, the negative impacts that we have created a world in which come to believe that girls and women
of COVID-19 are exacerbated for women are squeezed into just 25 per really are less able to lead than men and
women and girls simply by virtue of cent – one quarter – of the space, both boys – despite all the evidence to the
their sex. These impacts risk reversing in decision-making rooms and in the contrary. Until recently, 53 per cent of
limited gains made on women’s rights stories that we tell about our lives. men and 43 per cent of women globally
and empowerment in the past decades. Today, women are heads of state believed that men make better political
At the same time, women are on the and government in only 21 countries, leaders than women.
frontlines of response, as heads of including four in the Commonwealth The world we want has equality in
state and government, legislators, (Bangladesh, New Zealand, Singapore, power and presence. To build that
healthcare workers, carers at home and Trinidad and Tobago), but several better world effectively, we need
community leaders and mobilisers, have been recognised as providers women at the centre of decision-
amongst other roles. of global best practice in response making, and critical changes in the
In several countries, women leaders to COVID-19, such as New Zealand way we run our lives, such as more
are excelling in the COVID-19 Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. equitable and sustainable sharing of
response, providing powerful Globally, only 21.26 per cent the burden of care at home.
examples of how women’s leadership of ministers are women. Women This requires strategic public
and participation can provide more mayors have been highly visible and investment, including equipping
16GOOD GOVERNANCE
Credit: UN Women/Louie Pacardo
Credit: UN Photo/Cia Pak
ABOVE LEFT: responses to COVID-19, as well as in in the planning of their response
Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of the national fiscal stimulus packages strategies in only 54 per cent of cases.
New Zealand, has been recognised as that countries are rolling out in response The picture is the same in previous
a provider of global best practice in to the pandemic and ensuing economic disaster preparedness and recovery
response to COVID-19. crisis. It is vital to ensure the small plans, where women’s needs and
allocations that went to support gender interests were rarely included, and
ABOVE RIGHT: equality in the past are not further tended to be developed with little or
Police Staff Sergeant Graciel Ann reduced and that overstretched health no sex- or gender-disaggregated data
Maranon conducts live Facebook services do not divert resources away and little input from national gender
broadcasts to discuss COVID-19 from the essential services women equality representatives or women’s
quarantine policies in Koronadal City, need, such as support for survivors of organisations. As a result, issues such
Philippines. violence, pre- and postnatal healthcare as gender-based violence (GBV), which
and sexual and reproductive health. affects one in three women over their
Commonwealth countries can lifetime, receive minimal funding. In
lead the way, by supporting women’s 2018, funding for GBV was only 0.3
frontline health workers; delivery of leadership and participation, and per cent of total humanitarian funding
social protection measures that extend ensuring that women’s needs are in the countries studied.
to informal workers, recognising addressed in response and recovery Women are radically impatient for
women’s special circumstances and care efforts. They can include women change. There has been a surge in
work; gender impact analyses of fiscal in emergency response groups/task women’s activism around the globe as
stimulus and targeted financial support teams and operation centres, and they see that incremental change has
to businesses in feminised sectors and supporting women’s organisations. not worked. Younger women do not
women-led enterprises; and high quality, Previous health crises such as want to go through the experiences of
accessible services to prevent and the Ebola and Zika epidemics their elders and the elders are tired of
respond to gender-based violence. demonstrated the critical role of waiting. Energised by young feminists
In the immediate future, gender women’s organisations in reaching at the helm, social movements are
equality concerns should be embedded marginalised populations – including proposing new alternatives for
in the design of national policy women with disabilities, women conducting the world differently.
living with HIV, migrant and refugee Commonwealth leaders can
women, and others – through risk learn from the ways in which these
communication and prevention movements work across silos. Many
efforts. Yet, although women’s of them see the fight for gender
organisations and community groups equality as inseparable from broader
“Power imbalances and shoulder much of the response in struggles for economic, environmental
false stereotypes of local communities, too often they and social justice. We don’t want the
what women can and are left out of state or international same world back again. It is critical
organisation-led decision-making. now to ensure that women lead and
cannot do have gone In 2018, humanitarian aid agencies participate fully in decision-making on
on for far too long.” consulted with women’s organisations COVID-19 response and recovery.
17GOOD GOVERNANCE
Policy Priorities for Sri Lanka:
Creating a people-centric and
knowledge-driven future
His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa is President of The Democratic Socialist Republic of
Sri Lanka. He describes how the country is confidently and creatively building resilience
through a focus on youth advancement, innovative thinking and new technology.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, outbreak, Sri Lanka adopted an The COVID-19 pandemic also gave
President, The Democratic aggressive model with a strenuous rise to multi-dimensional impacts.
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and continuous process. My strategy We were called upon to address a
was to make proactive intervention drastic fall in demand for our exports,
through a whole of government a sharp decline in tourist arrivals,
approach, focusing on four Lines of disruptions to supply chains and a
T he 21st century is characterised
by knowledge and innovation,
with technologies and networking
Operation (LOO): military/police/
intelligence, medical and healthcare,
psychological and economic and
significant decrease in remittances.
The pace of realising the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) in Sri
defining human relations. It is, community wellbeing. Lanka, and in the developing countries,
indeed, timely that the theme of Of these LOO, the first sets will also be deaccelerated. Despite this,
the next Commonwealth Heads of the basis for the entire operation, particular mention must be made of
Government Meeting (CHOGM) through detection, isolation and the government’s strong intervention
2020 is ‘Delivering a Common tracing of COVID-19 cases. As to look after the poor during the
Future: Connecting, Innovating, of 1st June 2020, Sri Lanka has lockdown periods, as many such people
Transforming’. This is an exciting and recorded a 49.4 per cent recovery were daily wage earners dependent on
forward-looking roadmap to address rate, and a death rate as low as 0.67 some day-to-day economic activity.
our common challenges. per cent – one of the lowest in Every challenge, however
Globally, we are now facing largely Asia. Even with the relatively slow unparalleled, provides an opportunity
non-traditional challenges. The increase in the number of infected for building up individual and
COVID-19 pandemic, as I write this people, Sri Lanka has managed collective resilience, and generating
piece, is a case in point, in real time. to contain the spread successfully new thinking and perspectives. The
It is an unprecedented and mammoth within the identified clusters. The future I envision for Sri Lanka is a
challenge for individual countries reason behind our success story people-centric and knowledge-driven
and the global community as a whole, is the synergy of the approach. transformational beginning for all of
due to the scale and cross-sectoral Sri Lanka is blessed with a well- our people.
nature of the crisis. Across the established healthcare system, with Sri Lanka’s youth is the backbone
world, the pandemic has compelled both its arms – preventive and of her future, and the focus on youth
a fundamentally altered approach to curative systems – strong and spread advancement is a vital linchpin of
life, work and economic activities. It throughout the island. This, as well the country’s vision. During the
casts into sharp focus, more than ever as the synchronisation of work COVID-19 induced lockdown, Sri
before, the need to evolve innovative among all relevant stakeholders and Lanka enhanced and expanded
thinking, collective and integrated their unparalleled dedication, has online education for students in
strategies to address the entire gamut resulted in Sri Lanka being a unique schools, universities and technical
of the associated challenges. and dynamic model for combating and vocational training institutions,
To combat the COVID-19 this new challenge. through mobile phones, tablets, PCs
18GOOD GOVERNANCE
and TV. The online presence of for all students to receive computer developed for delivery of services
university students has reached almost education, to enable them to find through e-governance. Sri Lanka is
99 per cent. gainful employment as they venture already the first country in South Asia
Although Sri Lanka has a well- into the world of work. to adopt international standards for
established education system which Digitalisation of the economy, digital transactions.
ensures free education for every coupled with a digitally inclusive Sri Lanka and her people are
child, we have not been able to Sri Lanka, is one of our key policy extremely resilient and optimistic.
provide through it the necessary priorities. Growth and development The country has continued to recover
skilled manpower to meet modern of the ICT-based services sector will from many past vicissitudes such as a
day challenges. We have planned be promoted to enhance foreign protracted 30 year conflict, the 2004
to substantially increase the intake direct investment, job creation and Indian Ocean tsunami, devastating
to our state universities in science- income generation. To this end, the floods and the more recent horrific
and technology-related fields of government has earmarked a target Easter Sunday terror attacks. My
study. Skilled manpower is critically income of US$5 billion by 2022, country and my people will draw deeply
important for the fast-growing IT through the transition to a ‘knowledge from this vast reservoir of resilience to
sector in Sri Lanka. As such, our economy’. The digital government forge ahead creatively and confidently in
government is making it mandatory architecture will be reviewed and the post-COVID-19 reality.
“Every challenge,
however unparalleled,
provides an
opportunity
for building up
individual and
collective resilience,
and generating
new thinking and
perspectives.”
19GOOD GOVERNANCE
A New Direction of Leadership
in Sierra Leone
Professor David J Francis, Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, highlights the commendable
efforts of the New Direction Government to transform the nation to a peaceful and
prosperous middle income country by investing in human capital development.
Professor David J Francis, themes, to inspire the development to galvanise and sustain development
Chief Minister, Sierra Leone trajectory of the country after 59 change and transformation. Human
years of political independence, and beings are now considered Sierra
to change and transform the poverty Leone’s most important resource –
and underdevelopment narrative of not its abundant mineral resources.
M ention the country Sierra Leone
and it immediately conjures the
usual stereotypical images of civil war,
Sierra Leone.
It is common knowledge that
Sierra Leone’s abundant strategic
President Bio often tells the inspiring
story of attending primary school
in his village bare-footed because
blood diamonds and Ebola. Sierra mineral and natural resources have his mother could not afford to buy
Leone today is a very different country not supported the development of him any shoes, and how he literally
from this rather lazy caricature of the country. Instead, it has become a walked bare-footed from his village
the 1990s, just like Rwanda 26 years typical example of the resource-curse to the State House Presidency. He
after genocide and Ethiopia, 29 years debate, with the country ranked at 181 has identified three key pillars for the
after civil war and famine. However, in the UN Development Programme HCD flagship programme: education,
Rwanda and Ethiopia are no longer Human Development Index of 2019. health and agriculture.
defined by their pasts. It was determined that to change Free quality education was
Sierra Leone today, under the and transform Sierra Leone, the launched in September 2018, despite
leadership of President Julius governance and development focus the government inheriting a near
Maada Bio and his New Direction had to fundamentally shift from bankrupt state and with no funding
Government since April 2018, is excessive dependence on natural for development partners. To date,
a stable, peaceful and effectively resource extraction, to investment in it has allocated 21 per cent of its
governed country. Five successive Human Capital Development (HCD) recurrent budget to the education
democratic elections have successfully as the foundation for achieving
seen the peaceful transfer of political a middle-income country status,
power from incumbent governments based on inclusive development and
to opposition political parties in inclusive politics.
2007 and 2018 – a rarity in Africa. The New Direction Government
Sierra Leone is now ranked as the deliberately privileged long term,
third most peaceful country in sub- accelerated, predictable investment
Saharan Africa and is emerging as the in HCD as the most productive way
investors’ destination of choice in the
West African sub-region.
The New Direction political
governance and inclusive
development philosophy of “Sierra Leone is now
President Bio is predicated on
the five key pillars that embrace
ranked as the third
the Commonwealth Heads of most peaceful country
Government Meeting (CHOGM) in sub-Saharan Africa.”
20GOOD GOVERNANCE
sector, and created two distinct but
interrelated ministries of education
including the Ministry of Basic and
Senior Education and the Ministry of
Technical and Higher Education.
The National Development Plan is
entitled ‘Education for Development’,
to emphasise the importance
of education in the change and
transformation of Sierra Leone.
New investment in education has
funded the building of more schools,
classroom blocks and associated
facilities, recruitment and training of
more teachers and increased teacher
salaries. It has also enabled the launch
of 170 nationwide pilot projects
to improve learning outcomes
for basic literacy and numeracy, their livelihoods. With significant ABOVE:
operationalised ten technical and potential in the agricultural sector for Free quality education was launched
vocational institutions with curricula economic diversification, growth and in Sierra Leone in September 2018.
focussed on skills training and massive job creation, eight per cent Today, 21 per cent of the government’s
entrepreneurship education, and of GDP is allocated to agricultural recurrent budget is allocated to the
approved two new universities for development transformation in a education sector.
science and technology and technical range of areas, including mechanised
and entrepreneurship education. and commercial rice value-chain
In support of the HCD health production, animal husbandry and
pillar, the government has increased industrial cash crop production such magnetic and radiometric data on
healthcare budget allocations from as cocoa, coffee and cashew nuts. Sierra Leone’s mineral assets and
seven per cent in 2018 to 11 per cent The government currently spends deposits. This has confirmed the
in 2020, and recruited and trained US$200 million on rice and US$20 economic and financial potential
2,500 healthcare workers with a million on onion importation of the country’s mineral assets
focus on midwives, pharmacists annually, despite the vast fertile and wealth, and will now be used
and pharmacy technicians, and arable lands available within as sovereign collateral to secure
epidemiologists, clinical and surgical the country. To end importation of major funds to finance large-scale
community health officers. A the staple food, rice, and to develop infrastructure projects, such as the
budget of US$19.8 million has been sustainable food self-sufficiency to transformative Lungi-Freetown
provided for the construction of an support the education and health Bridge construction project at an
ultra-modern National Diagnostic HCD pillars, the government is estimated cost of US$1.2 billion.
and Radiotherapy Cancer Treatment funding the Ministries of Youth For 59 years, Sierra Leone has
Centre, and these new facilities will Affairs, Defence, the Correctional been taxiing on the tarmac of the
significantly reduce costs on overseas / Prisons Services and Local development runway, but with the
medical expenditure, end health Councils to establish mechanised and implementation of HCD under new,
tourism and broaden healthcare access commercial large scale institutional committed leadership, Sierra Leone is
to more Sierra Leoneans. Importantly, farms across the country. set to take-off towards middle-income
one-third of this government funding Implementation of the HCD social country status in the coming years. If
comes from the Anti-Corruption and development intervention pillars post-war Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda
Commission, as part of the monies is capital intensive, and so priority has can do it, why not Sierra Leone? This is
recovered from its corruption been given to the efficient political the New Direction in Africa!
prosecution. and economic management of state
President Bio has simplified the and natural resources, to enable funds
conceptualisation of HCD as ‘feed from the country’s abundant strategic
the mind/brain’, in other words, mineral resources to be used to pay
“Human beings are
for education: take care of the body for HCD social service delivery and now considered
(health security) and feed the stomach economic development. Sierra Leone’s most
(food security). With support from the World
Nearly 70 per cent of the Bank, the first nationwide airborne
important resource
population of Sierra Leone depend geophysical survey has been – not its abundant
on some form of agriculture for completed, to provide high resolution mineral resources.”
21GOOD GOVERNANCE
Access to Justice Across the
Commonwealth
The mission of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) is to uphold the Rule of Law
throughout the Commonwealth. In this piece, the Association’s President, Brian Speers,
argues that broad access to a trusted and transparent system of justice is essential to
protect marginalised and vulnerable citizens across the family of nations.
In addition, alternatives to obtaining Justice must, of course, be done and
resolution of cases in court must be be seen to be done. Journalists have
promoted; most notably mediation. been able to attend remote hearings and
In September 2017, following the they must be free to exercise their rights
destruction caused by Hurricanes Irma in accordance with the Commonwealth
and Maria, it soon became apparent Principles on Freedom of Expression.
to many Caribbean jurisdictions that However, journalists attending a remote
physical access to courts and tribunals hearing is not the same as providing
Brian H Speers, was a Rule of Law issue. Technology a public right of access. It remains a
President, Commonwealth assisted and many necessary hearings cornerstone of the Rule of Law that the
Lawyers Association were conducted by virtual courts. public can walk into a court complex
Likewise, in March 2020, during and watch judges dispensing justice.
the UK’s COVID-19 crisis, Mr In addition, courts should be
Justice Mostyn heard a welfare case prepared, more often, to go to the
I mperative for promoting the Rule
of Law in any country is a justice
process that is timeous, respected,
to determine whether an elderly man
should continue to receive life sustaining
medical treatment (Re AF [2020]
people. Mobile courts and mobile
witness booths are a manifestation of
the Rule of Law in action and make
accessible and affordable. However, EWCOP 16). The hearing took place on access to justice seem real. Many
can it be said that the available system Skype for Business and is believed to be Commonwealth jurisdictions are
of justice in the Commonwealth the first ever trial conducted in England innovative in providing these mobile
currently meets these requirements? and Wales by remote means. It was facilities, and the mobile court formed
Delay between commencing considered to be a success. part of an interesting discussion at
proceedings and having a case Judges may soon find they have the Commonwealth Law Ministers
determined by a court is common even less use for their wigs and gowns. Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in
throughout all Commonwealth The virtual court genie is well and November 2019.
jurisdictions, but can lead to a lack of truly out of the lamp. It is important in any system of justice
respect for the system of justice and Financially pressed governments that those presenting cases are well
frustration among litigants. Evidence are likely to take advantage of the trained and have a defined recognition
and memory and the quality of recent success of virtual courts for of their duty to the court. Practitioners
decision-making after lengthy periods cost savings. However, lawyers must and their clients expect that the courts
of waiting may be jeopardised. embrace the virtual court hearing but to which cases are presented, are
To address delay, there must be an with great caution. Remote or virtual presided over by impartial, incorruptible,
adequate number of appropriately justice will not be easily practical in trained and respected judges.
trained independent judges, proper those jurisdictions where jury trials These components are essential
investment in court administrators and have been retained. Many complex to ensure the citizen has respect in
court technology, as well as court rules family law disputes will continue to the legal system. The judiciary must
that take account of new technologies require the judge to see the witnesses be remunerated adequately, have
and restrict adjournments. of fact give evidence in person. sufficient pension provision and must
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