High commissioners, representing the 56 Commonwealth countries, have approved a five-year strategic plan for the Commonwealth Secretariat to deliver focused support for the 2.7 billion people it serves.

To set the stage for a new era of effective results, the Secretariat developed its strategic plan covering the period 2025 to 2030, after extensive consultations with member countries, sister and accredited organisations, development partners, staff members and other stakeholders.

Early in her tenure in April 2025, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Botchwey, outlined a bold and ambitious vision for the Secretariat, the executive arm of the 56-member association.

The new strategic plan will make the Commonwealth more focused, strategic and impactful in its delivery for the benefit of the people and planet it is mandated to serve.

New strategic direction unveiled

Under the new plan, the Secretariat, with strategic partners, will focus on three key interrelated pillars with a cross-cutting focus on young people, women and small states, that will create the conditions for fast-tracking development across the Commonwealth. A key component includes a focus on expanding youth digital skills through distance education, youth entrepreneurship and STEM education for girls.

The three pillars include:

1. democratic resilience: supporting human rights, the rule of law, good governance, and strong elections;

2. economic resilience: pushing for fair access to finance, inclusive trade, and sustainable debt; and

3. environmental resilience: taking action on climate change, protecting the ocean, and promoting sustainable use of natural resources.

Across these pillars, performance enablers and accelerators, such as a reformed Secretariat, technology and partnerships, are being prioritised to strengthen programme delivery. In particular, the Secretariat will leverage its partnerships to tackle complex challenges, such as health, education and addressing the needs of people with disabilities.

In her remarks to the High Commissioners at an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Governors on 10 September 2025, the Commonwealth Secretary-General said:

"In a world of disruption, the Commonwealth is needed more than ever, but we can only meet that need if we are willing to evolve. From climate to trade, democracy to youth empowerment, the challenges facing our members are complex and interconnected. The world is moving fast, so we must keep pace. That's why this strategic plan is grounded in the enduring values of our Charter, but shaped by the real, present demands of our time."

She also thanked Commonwealth Heads of Government, members of the Board of Governors and stakeholders, including the Deputy Secretary-General, Dr Arjoon Suddhoo, and his team, for coordinating its development.

After the meeting, the Chair of the Board of Governors, HE Titilupe Fanetupouvava'u Tu'ivakano, the High Commissioner of Tonga to the UK, shared:

"The strategic plan is a big step forward in terms of collaboration between member countries and the Commonwealth Secretariat. The new plan has a focus on small island states, which we, in the Pacific region, are especially grateful for. We have agreed to a comprehensive plan that benefits people within our 56 member countries."

The way ahead

To realise the strategic plan's ambitious goals, programme teams have developed detailed projects to translate these plans into concrete and coordinated actions for building a more resilient Commonwealth.

Over the next few weeks, the Commonwealth Secretary-General will embark on a series of engagements to share the Secretariat's new direction with other strategic partners and stakeholders.

She is scheduled to travel to New York later this month to lead the Secretariat's delegation to the 25th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) and related ministerial gatherings on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

Notes to Editors

* The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal sovereign states. Our combined population is 2.7 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged 29 or under.

* The Commonwealth spans the globe and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-three of our members are small states, many of which are island nations.

* The Commonwealth Secretariat supports member countries to build democratic and inclusive institutions, strengthen governance and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, deliver national resilience, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality.

* Member countries are supported by a network of more than 90 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations.

Media Contact

Charmaine Wright,

Head of Media Relations,

Commonwealth Secretariat

Phone: +44 20 7747 6242

Email: c.wright@commonwealth.int