CLGF was delighted to attend CHOGM 2024 and represent the most important issues to local government. Secretary-General, Ms Lucy Slack, provides an overview of what took place.  

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) takes place every two years. It is an opportunity for heads to come together on key issues of the day, and to shape the direction and policy of the organisation. CLGF was delighted to be able to participate and ensure that the voice of local government was heard at the recent meeting which took place in Apia, Samoa in October with the theme of One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth.

Inclusion

This was the first time that the CHOGM had taken place in one of the Pacific Island states and perhaps reflecting that, there was a strong focus in the discussions on the needs and priorities of small island developing states (SIDS). Inclusion was at the heart of all of the sessions, and Samoa's Prime Minister, the Hon Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa, said that CHOGM Samoa 2024’s outcomes should foster resilient societies which would “empower individuals for a peaceful and productive life”. 

Building on the successes of the 2022 CHOGM held in Kigali, Rwanda, CLGF worked together with its Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI) partners, the Kings Foundation, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Governments of Rwanda and Samoa to deliver a side event focusing on Sustainable Urbanisation as an integral part of building resilience and calling for member states to recommit to implementing the Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation adopted in 2022. Discussions focused on sharing good practice and the opportunities to leverage the Commonwealth networks in implementation. Given the support for this from member states, a follow up meeting in early 2025 will be held to finalise a roadmap for action.

Inclusive political leadership

CLGF was also happy to partner with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum for a dynamic side event on inclusive political leadership. This side event covered a broad cross section of steps essential for enhancing inclusion, not least the value of role models, enabling legislation, investing in inclusion and capacity development. It was a chance for CLGF to highlight the practical work it has been doing to promote women in leadership at the local level across the Commonwealth as well as to reinforce the role that local government plays in enabling inclusive leadership through policy and practice.

Gender equality

Having been part of the organising team for the Commonwealth Women’s Forum, it was positive to see issues of gender equality high on the agenda in Samoa, with diverse sessions covering women in leadership, women’s economic empowerment, human rights and gender, and intergenerational dialogue. The meeting was bookended by two interesting Talanoa (discussions) the first between the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and a young councillor from the UK, and the second a frank discussion between the Prime Minister of Samoa and her counterpart from Tuvalu which was broad ranging but included agreement on the importance of role models (of all genders) in supporting gender equality, and the need for investment to enable change towards greater inclusion. 

Doing business

The Business Forum successfully brought together the private sector from across the Commonwealth with governments and civil society in a series of fascinating sessions on trade and investment in the Commonwealth. The recent Commonwealth trade review launched just before CHOGM highlighted that in 2022, the Commonwealth’s combined GDP reached US$14 trillion for the first time, with projections estimating it could rise to $20 trillion by 2029.  Intra-Commonwealth trade reached $854 billion in 2022 and is expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2026, meaning that the Commonwealth trade advantage remains intact post-COVID.

Youth participation

There were two other forums taking place (the People’s Forum and the Youth Forum). It was positive that Mandisa Mthimkhulu, from Mbabane City Council in Eswatini and also a member of the Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation (CYSU), was part of the team that organised the Youth event, ensuring that the voice of youth in cities and urban development was part of the agenda. She also spoke at the side event that CLGF and the CSCI partners organised.    

CHOGM outputs

This CHOGM was very collegiate and inclusive with the geography of Apia helping to ensure that events were all taking place close to each other.  Alongside the Leaders’ Statement and Communique, there were a a number of other key outcomes and announcements. Probably the most significant for the host government and the region where CHOGM was held was the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration apia-commonwealth-ocean-declaration (2).pdf. In addition Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of expression and the role of the Media in Good Governance were also agreed Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media in Good Governance (1).pdf.

The full set of official outcomes documents are available here.

It is extremely positive to note the continued commitment to action on sustainable urbanisation (paragraph 7 of the Communique) and we look forward to working on this going forward.

Investment Action Plan

CHOGM Is also a time for many other announcements and CLGF will be tracking these for members over the course of the year. The UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced a new Commonwealth Investment Action Plan, which aims to boost trade and investment across Commonwealth member states while enhancing the economic resilience of small and vulnerable nations; and The King announced a new Fellowship Programme focusing on SIDS and climate action, which will be delivered by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) was launched at an event hosted by the National University of Samoa.

Looking to the future

CHOGM 2024 demonstrated the vibrancy and the convening power of the Commonwealth. The newly elected Secretary-General Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey from Ghana will take office in April 2025 and the next CHOGM will be held in Antigua and Barbuda.