Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa (CHOGM 2024)

Commonwealth Heads of Government are meeting in Apia Samoa this week (25 – 26 October) to discuss the bloc’s future development priorities.

The objective of Heads at the biennial meeting is to “deliberate on the vital role of The Commonwealth in supporting long-term resilience for all, guided by the theme “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth”.” As such, the focus will be on ‘strategies’ for building resilient institutions, economies and environment, especially among the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and small and vulnerable states that are members of the bloc.

Heads have recognised, among other things, “the need to support financing for development and disaster risk reduction, to unlock the potential for the private sector to provide capital for mitigation and adaptation measures, [while] ensuring that natural resources are leveraged in a manner consistent with sustainable development principles.” In a world experiencing several “ongoing armed conflicts and related humanitarian crises” Commonwealth member states face “threats to international peace and security” and are experiencing migration issues caused by “the displacement of people […] the increased risk of exploitation of persons and human trafficking, […] food and energy insecurity; and the distortion of economies and supply chains around the world.”

The commitment to affirming the democratic dividend of the Commonwealth by focusing on strengthening democratic institutions that reflect shared values of democracy, human rights, peace, tolerance, respect and understanding, the rule of law, good governance and respect for diversity looks to be an approach that could reap significant results for member states, especially with regards to addressing the climate challenge.

The meetings in Apia will feature a People’s Forum led by the Commonwealth Foundation, a Youth Forum and a Women’s Forum led by the Commonwealth Secretariat, and several side events convened and led by Commonwealth organisation, many acting in partnership with stakeholders from the South Pacific region or the wider Commonwealth.

This is the first time the meeting is being hosted by a developing country and small island state in the South Pacific.

 

 

The Ramphal Institute on 21^st November 2023 changed its registered status from a Charitable Incorporate Company (CIC) to that of a foundation type Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), making it one of the first Commonwealth organisations in England and Wales to adopt the new legal status.

The new registered status as a CIO required the Institute to adopt a new legal structure using legislation which came into effect in 2018 for non-profit organisations and charities. As a result of this change, the Institute is now registered with only the Charities Commission and is no longer subject to company legislation or registered with Companies House.

Beyond the changes in terms of legal personality, the shift to Foundation CIO status has important implications for the Institute and the main benefits have to do with its legal personality (the Institute is now able to enter contracts, sue and be sued, and to hold property in its own name – rather than in the name of its trustees), and its members have limited liability (their liability in the event the charity becomes insolvent is limited or nil). The shift to CIO status is also expected to be more cost-effective and simpler structure than a company limited by guarantee, especially as it relates to filing of its accounts.

The shift does not affect the priority areas of work or the programmes and activities offered by the Institute.

The Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is an alternative legal form for a charity. Part 11 of the Charities Act 2011 creates the basic legal framework, complemented by the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012, the Charities Act 2011 (Charitable Incorporated Organisations) (Constitutions) Regulations 2012 and the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Insolvency and Dissolution) Regulations 2012. Regulations to enable the conversion of existing charitable companies and community interest companies to charitable incorporated organisations came into force on 1 January 2018 (although applications for conversion of community interest companies will apparently not be accepted until September 2018 and further guidance is expected from the Charity Commission).