CHOGM is happening at a very important and delicate time. Happening right after the worst global pandemic the world has seen in centuries and against a backdrop of conflict in Europe together with rising global inflation, CHOGM is indeed taking place at an opportune time for the Commonwealth member states to truly pause, reflect, and act in a world that is constantly in flux. Over the past few weeks, I have shared my thoughts on the theme that CHOGM has adopted, ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.’ which is extremely timely and relevant. The global response to the pandemic has been isolation. As social activity was curtailed and banned, humanity came to realise and appreciate the importance of connection. Social activity is all about this connectivity between people and we came to realise that economic activity is also heavily affected by the power of connectivity and human interaction. Economic sectors such as tourism and hospitality were obviously highly impacted through this curtailment of social activity. We have come to appreciate the importance of being connected not only on an economic level but more importantly human level. Today, connection and connectivity are key features of the global economy. Technology is supporting this and making connectivity imperative for people to be truly involved and included economically. It is for this specific reason that having connected in the theme is opportune. The Commonwealth is a diverse set of countries with different development and progress trajectories. With a great number of developing states, some of which are also island states, the focus on connectivity is critical. Home to countries that have been pioneering the use of technology to develop economic sectors and foster social inclusion, there is a great amount of knowledge transfer that can be shared amongst member states for the benefit of all. A key area that requires connectivity is the public service and egovernment. Here, especially due to small island states and developing countries, where resources are limited, both financial and human, CHOGM needs to ensure that no one is left behind in connecting their societies digitally through egovernment services. Technical support but also the availability of government toolkits and systems that can cater for small states should be developed based on blockchain technology. Here I believe that such systems can support key elements such as identity management, financial inclusion, and document registries. The sharing of information between member states through such blockchain-based systems should also support members with compliance and intelligence requirements to shore up onshore and offshore financial services. However, being connected through technology can support various ecosystems develop and enhance their economic contribution. Connectivity is important especially for island states that have small domestic markets and need to focus even more on export markets. Here, setting up new services-based economic sectors powered by technology can support countries in bridging the distance and peripherality that islandness brings about. It can also support leap-frogging development processes through technology. Connectivity is not only about technology but also about regulations and policies that bring populations together as well as member states through projects of shared interest, knowledge transfer, sharing of best practice and establishing centres of excellence. The Commonwealth has several successes in this regard. The Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH) is one such example. It helps countries to unlock the available climate finance. Through this initiative, small and vulnerable member states are assisted to bid for and gain increased access to climate finance and the Hub has managed to successfully support several member states in procuring climate finance. In this light, Rwanda can develop legacy programmes and initiatives to support member states increase their connectivity on a number of levels. First, I believe that a central hub should be created to support work in digital transformation. Here the COMNET Foundation for ICT Development (COMNET) should be revived or else a new centre should be developed. COMNET was an independent Foundation whose mission was to help realise the transformational potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development among Commonwealth and other developing countries. Established in the mid-1990s, through a joint initiative of the Maltese Government and the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Foundation’s major thrust was to facilitate the sharing of experience and capacity-building. Second, Rwanda should also focus very much on supporting the connectivity of Commonwealth countries in other initiatives including climate change mitigation, good governance, economic resilience, and diversification. Through such centres, member states can enhance their connectedness through exchanges, sharing of best practice and more on order to leverage on collective experience to tackle the great societal challenges of our time. Rwanda is presiding over a critical CHOGM which comes at a unique and delicate juncture. The theme chosen is aspirational yet very relevant. However, member states and their people require the theme to move from words into concrete action and I am confident that Rwanda can rise up to the occasion and leverage its gravitas to ensure that it will leave its legacy to the Commonwealth in the years to come. The writer is a co-founding partner of Seed, a research-driven advisory firm with offices in Europe and Dubai. www.seedconsultancy.com | jp@seedconsultancy.com
