Commonwealth Secretariat 
Administers Commonwealth ideals on behalf of Commonwealth governments collectively. It promotes social, economic, and technical co-operation throughout the Commonwealth. It also organises Commonwealth meetings and administers the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC). COL is collaborating with the Secretariat in initiatives relating to management training, youth and health programmes as well as education.
The Commonwealth Secretariat's multi-national staff is headed by Commonwealth Secretary-General, H.E. the Right Honourable Donald C. McKinnon. (Address: Marlborough House, Pall Mall , London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom; Telephone: 44-171-839-3411; Fax: 44-171-930-0827)
A Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is held every two years (www.thecommonwealth.org/chogm). Education, Finance and other Commonwealth Ministers also meet regularly.
Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 
COL is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. COL works with Commonwealth nations to improve access to quality education and training.
The Commonwealth Foundation
The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation funded by Commonwealth governments, providing travel grants and facilitating networking and training opportunities to encourage inter-country exchange and co-operation among Commonwealth non-governmental organisations, professional and cultural bodies.
Commonwealth Connects
(formerly, Commonwealth Action Programme for the Digital Divide)
The new Commonwealth Connects programme aims to harness information and communication technologies (ICTs) to benefit member countries that need them most. It comprises the report and recommendations of the Commonwealth Expert Group on Information Technology, which was adopted by the Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Coolum, Australia, in March 2002. Its four recommendations, which are now being implemented by the Commonwealth agencies, in partnership with member governments, civil society and the private sector, aim to promote the wider use of ICTs in Commonwealth countries, to bridge the digital divide and promote socio-economic development of member countries, particularly the small states and developing countries. Commonwealth Connects was launched in August 2006. It formerly operated as the Commonwealth Action Programme for the Digital Divide.
Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development (COMNET-IT)
Based in Malta, this relatively new Commonwealth organisation aims to facilitate Internet-based development, promoting awareness, capacity-building and networked computer connectivity for Commonwealth institutions and individuals around the world. COL and COMNET-IT have signed a memorandum of Understanding to work together in the growing field of distance education and the use of information and communications technologies.
The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA)
The CBA is a membership-based organisation which trains broadcasting organisations, fosters freedom of information, disseminates broadcasting information, promotes public service broadcasting, and provides a forum for discussion amongst its members. It's web site includes "newsflashes" on broadcasting in various Commonwealth countries and information on bursaries and awards, jobs and funding, training and education.
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO)
This international agency works with the governments and telecommunications businesses of Commonwealth countries to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services.
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
Founded in 1913, the Association of Commonwealth Universities serves its nearly 500 members by strengthening international co-operation and understanding. It fulfils this by assisting members to build up their human resources; by promoting, through several programmes, the movement of academic and administrative staff and of students from one country of the Commonwealth to another; by providing information about universities and about issues of relevance to them; by hosting a higher education management consultancy service; and by organising meetings of various kinds.
Institute of Commonwealth Studies (University of London)
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies is a postgraduate academic institution devoted to the study of the Commonwealth. Its purpose is to promote interdisciplinary and inter-regional research on the Commonwealth and its member nations in the fields of history, politics, economics and other social sciences, and in subjects like the environment, health, migration, class, race, culture and literature. ICS also offers a Masters degree in Human Rights. The ICS web pages provide information about the Institute and its activities, including seminar programmes, conference previews and reports; library and archive holdings (with on-line access to the library catalogue); ICS Newsletter; ICS research projects at ICS; courses and research degrees; academic staff; and links to other Commonwealth sites.
Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit
The Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit is a think-tank for the 53-nation Commonwealth based at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. The CPSU works where possible with persons and agencies around the Commonwealth. It aims to identify major policies for the Commonwealth, to research and formulate solutions for policymakers in governments, business and NGOs and to spread its findings, as an independent body. It has, since starting in 1999, focussed on the impacts of globalisation and of the Harare Commonwealth Declaration (1991).
Commonwealth Business Council (CBC)
The Commonwealth Business Council was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 1997 to involve the private sector in the promotion of trade and investment. The CBC acts as a bridge for co-operation between business and government, concentrating on efforts to help remove barriers to trade, mobilise investment into Commonwealth countries, foster a good environment for business and investment, promote good practice in corporate governance and corporate citizenship, and facilitate the expansion of e-commerce, especially in developing countries.
Council for Education in the Commonwealt (CEC)
The Council for Education in the Commonwealth (CEC), a UK parliament-based NGO, was founded nearly 40 years ago, at the time of the first Commonwealth Education Ministers' Conference. Its purpose is to create an informed public opinion on the salient issues concerning education and training in the Commonwealth and to identify appropriate ways in which Britain and the European Union can best contribute to their development.
The Round Table/Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs
Published by Taylor and Francis, the journal is supported by an Editorial Board that also organises occasional seminars, meetings and conferences on themes of Commonwealth interest. The journal and the web site also include Commonwealth Update, an authoritative, nation-by-nation review of events across the Commonwealth (by Derek Ingram).
Commonwealth Games
Held every four years, the Commonwealth Games date back to 1930, when the inaugural Games were held in Hamilton, Canada. Then known as the "British Empire Games", that first competition welcomed 11 countries and a total of 400 competitors. When the Commonwealth Games were staged for the fourth time in Canada in 1994, the event attracted 2,446 of the world's top athletes from 63 nations (Commonwealth countries and associated states and territories), all of whom were competing for the honour of the Commonwealth Gold. The Commonwealth Games have always enjoyed a unique atmosphere that has lead to its being known as the "Friendly Games". The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England (25 July - 4 August). In 2006, the Games will be in Melbourne, Australia.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be held in Delhi, India.
The Young Commonwealth
Student and teacher resources for Commonwealth Day, Commonwealth sport and Commonwealth studies (hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat).
British Empire and Commonwealth Museum
The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol is a major new museum (opening September 2002). The museum "provides a national (U.K.) forum for preserving, exploring and studying Britain's cultural heritage associated with the former Empire and today's Commonwealth, so that we can better understand and treasure the past and enrich the future." Some online research services are available now.
Commonwealth memberships (World Rulers Web Site)
