The scale of contributions, which sets the contribution to be made by each member state to fund the Secretariat, was last changed more than twenty years ago. The revised system will mean that the contributions of a number of countries will increase, while financial relief will be given to those with the least capacity to pay, resulting in savings of between 37% and 65%. Nine members will increase their contributions by 25% or more and one of these will see its contribution double.

Prior to the new agreement, all member countries contributed to the Commonwealth Secretariat according to a scale agreed back in 1989. In the two decades that followed, members’ relative capacity to pay had changed significantly: some Commonwealth countries had experienced strong economic growth, whilst others had not.

Under the new agreement, which will be phased in over a three-year period, beginning in the current financial year, the starting point for determining each country’s contribution is its relative capacity to pay. However, the new scale also has a number of elements, including a revised ceiling and floor to reflect the other principles mandated by Heads of Government at the Kampala CHOGM in 2007: equitable burden sharing and shared ownership for the Secretariat.

In future the scale will be reviewed every five years and assessed to take into account member countries changing economic status.

In welcoming the agreement Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, paid particular tribute to the work of the Chair of the Working Group of Members that developed the agreement, the High Commissioner of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Dr. Carl Roberts.

Mr Sharma said: “The Secretariat owes a huge debt of gratitude to Dr. Roberts. His leadership, dedication and skill – coupled with strong support from the Secretariat – was instrumental in bringing about an agreement.  In addition to all the work he put into the Working Group itself, and into numerous bilateral meetings behind the scenes to develop the agreement, the role he played at CHOGM in skilfully navigating the proposal through the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to the meeting of Heads of Government, was absolutely critical.”

Mr Sharma also noted that the willingness of the major contributors to pay more was a sign of the confidence which member countries have in the continuing relevance and importance of the Commonwealth.

Steve Cutts, who as Director of the Secretariat’s Strategic Planning and Evaluation Division provided technical support to the Working Party, noted that while the agreement does not increase the size of the Secretariat’s budget overall, there was reason to hope that some additional resources would flow into the organisation as a result. He explained that several countries, who will now be paying a lower rate under the new agreement, had indicated that they would pass on their savings to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation or the Commonwealth Youth Fund.