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Page last updated: March 1, 2007

'Headlines do not matter so much, however, to the small specialised think-tanks, where their recognised expertise in a particular field is more likely to carry weight with a department in the Foreign Office. One such institution is the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) ... Its input into policy-making was recognised by a research project funded by the Foreign Office for the Commonwealth High Level Review, chaired by South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki'

The Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU), a think-tank based at London University's Institute of Commonwealth Studies part of the School of Advanced Study, started work in 1999 following a feasibility study the previous year. In his introduction, Sir Shridath Ramphal wrote that it will, "enrich the Commonwealth at a time when Governments, businesses and NGOs are awakening to its special possibilities."

The CPSU carries out its work on the basis of project funding. Details of current and completed projects are held elsewhere in this website, and a full list may be accessed from: http://www.cpsu.org.uk/projects/projects.htm, or by clicking on the "projects" link to the left of this page. The CPSU is committed to making its findings as widely available as possible, and you will be able to download copies of many of its published reports from the project pages themselves, or by following the "publications" link on the left.

Wherever possible the Unit cooperates with partners around the Commonwealth, and other Commonwealth organisations, and sets up project advisory groups. By early 2004 it had raised over £750,000 for its activities. Funders include the European Commission; the Department for International Development, UK; the Ford Foundation, New York; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK; the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation; and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum. The CPSU currently has four members of staff and an Associate Fellow, and has part-time Interns attached to the various projects.

In November 2001 the Unit reviewed its main priorities which, initially, have been twofold: on the impact of globalisation, and of the Harare Declaration, 1991.

CO-OPERATION

The CPSU actively welcomes collaborators around the Commonwealth, although it is not normally able to provide financial assistance. It would like to hear of any Commonwealth-wide policy studies being conducted by other bodies and individuals.

ORGANISATION

Following the recent revision of its NGO accreditation system, with the new status of "accreditation to the Commonwealth," a committee of High Commissioners in London made one of the first such awards to the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit in 2003, thus enabling the CPSU to have access to the Abuja CHOGM, 2003.

The decision by the Commonwealth Secretariat to revise its NGO accreditation system followed a series of recommendations made by Amanda Shah, in a report 'Joining up the Commonwealth', published by the Civil Society in the Commonwealth Project, CPSU, August 2002.

As part of a process of consolidation, the CPSU and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies (ICS) agreed a Memorandum of Understanding in July 2003.

CPSU has an international pan-Commonwealth Advisory Board chaired by Professor James Manor, who has been an Academic Advisor to the CPSU since its inception and is a former Director of the ICS. For specified purposes, the Board may be regarded as a subcommittee of the Advisory Council of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies.

Each year the CPSU provides an Annual Report.
Follow this link for the CPSU Annual Report, August 2005- July 2006
Follow this link for the CPSU Annual Report, August 2004- July 2005
Follow this link for the CPSU Annual Report, August 2003- July 2004
Follow this link for the CPSU Annual Report, August 2002- July 2003

The CPSU provides annual Accounts.
Follow this link for the CPSU Accounts 2004-2005
Follow this link for the CPSU Accounts 2003-2004
Follow this link for the CPSU Accounts 2002-2003

LOCATION

Details of how to find the CPSU may be found by following this link

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