Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14

CGH cover 2013 sentCommonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 is the comprehensive guide to public sector reform and innovation in the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Secretariat, through its Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD), promotes ‘effective, efficient and equitable public governance in member countries’: a scope of work bridging the defining Commonwealth pillars of democracy, development and diversity.

Commonwealth Governance Handbook brings together Secretariat perspectives with those of partners in government; professional networks;
regional and intergovernmental agencies; multi-stakeholder partnerships; global NGOs; and academics. This edition covers:

  • Challenges facing Commonwealth regions and small states
  • Political-administrative and state-civil society relations
  • Leadership, innovation and technology in the public sector
  • Women in political leadership
  • The Commonwealth’s renewed focus on issues of diversity
  • Standards, accountability and transparency in public life and service delivery
  • Environmental governance: extractive industries, oceans and climate change

The publication also contains 53 governance profiles of member countries as well as progress on the Millennium Development Goals and other indicators.

Contents

Introduction

Improving public administration for more effective, efficient and equitable public governance

Tim Newman, acting director, GIDD

The adoption by member governments earlier this year of a new, more results-focused strategic plan for the Commonwealth Secretariat for 2013-17 marked a significant shift in gear for the organisation. One of the key changes has been the adoption of a more narrowly focused work programme, as mandated at the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, in order to sharpen the impact of the Secretariat’s work… More…