Introduction from the Director-General This report is being released at the time of turbulence and hardship. Too many people— too many citizens of the Commonwealth—are enduring lives marked by uncertainty, instability and want. Democracy: one of the core values of our Commonwealth, is under real threat. In such times, our mission seems more relevant than ever. The Foundation was established by its Member States to support the voices of Commonwealth civil society: to bring those voices into policy formation and decision-making. Over the past year we have sought to use our platform to ask the questions that matter to the lives and wellbeing of the people of the Commonwealth— and to seek answers from the activists, thinkers and policy makers who are at the forefront of change. Why, for example, does it matter to support a free and independent press? What does solidarity and justice mean in practice when it comes to difficult issues such as vaccine equity and the uneven impacts of climate change? Perhaps most importantly: why is a vibrant and flourishing civil society the very best guarantee of democracy and democratic values?
‘Over the past year we have sought to use our platform to ask the questions that matter to the lives and wellbeing of the people of the Commonwealth—and to seek answers from the activists, thinkers and policy makers who are at the forefront of change.’
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Our ambitious new strategic plan takes the principles and ideals of the Commonwealth Charter as our inspiration and guide, setting a very clear course for the Foundation. We are focusing attention and resources on three big issues: health, environment and climate change, and freedom of expression. We are continuing to prioritise gender and equality in everything we do. We are championing the young people of the Commonwealth and the concerns of the Commonwealth’s small and vulnerable states. We are working to support the entire Commonwealth family: collaborating with the Secretariat and Member States to help deliver the broader Commonwealth agenda. This report documents the first exciting year of the new strategic plan and confirms that there is much to be proud of. We have fulfilled our commitment to ensure that a greater proportion of Foundation
