The Commonwealth has had only seven Secretaries-General in more than six decades. The first two held the job for a quarter of a century between them, and much of what the Commonwealth is today — an association of equals with its own voice — was shaped in those years. This is the first of a CWN Times series on the people who have led the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Who was the first Commonwealth Secretary-General?

Arnold Smith, a Canadian career diplomat who had served in Moscow and Cairo, became the first Secretary-General when the Secretariat was created in 1965. He arrived to find no building of his own, a small staff and a British establishment that was not entirely comfortable with the idea of an independent Commonwealth official. For its first years, the Foreign Office did not even invite the Secretary-General to the Queen’s annual diplomatic reception — a slight the Queen herself corrected in 1968.

Smith’s quiet achievement was to establish that the Secretariat served all members, not London. That mattered enormously in his decade, as newly independent countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean joined and the Commonwealth’s centre of gravity moved south.

What did Arnold Smith achieve?

• Holding the club together over Rhodesia. Smith took office as white-minority Rhodesia declared unilateral independence in 1965. African members were furious with Britain’s response, and the crisis threatened to break the Commonwealth apart. Smith worked to keep the argument inside the family.
• The Singapore Declaration (1971). Leaders set out, for the first time, a shared statement of Commonwealth principles — including racial equality, opposition to colonial domination and support for representative government.
• Technical co-operation. In 1971 the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation was established, allowing members to share expertise with one another — a practical tool that still operates today.

Who was Sonny Ramphal?

Sir Shridath Surendranath Ramphal, known universally as “Sonny”, was a Guyanese lawyer and former foreign minister who served as Secretary-General from 1975 to 1990 — still the longest tenure of anyone in the post. He was the first Secretary-General from the developing world and the Caribbean, and he brought a sharp legal mind and a gift for public advocacy. He died in August 2024, aged 95, and was mourned across the Caribbean and the Commonwealth as one of its great statesmen.

How did the Commonwealth fight apartheid under Ramphal?

Ramphal made opposition to apartheid in South Africa the Commonwealth’s defining cause. Key moments included:

• The Gleneagles Agreement (1977), in which Commonwealth governments agreed to discourage sporting contact with apartheid South Africa — a powerful symbolic blow in sport-loving countries.
• The Lusaka meeting (1979), which helped lead to the Lancaster House talks and Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980.
• The Eminent Persons Group (1986), a high-level Commonwealth mission to South Africa whose findings strengthened the case for sanctions — often against the strong resistance of the British government of the day.

These were not cost-free positions. Ramphal’s Commonwealth repeatedly found itself at odds with London, and he was willing to let that tension show. Many historians credit the Commonwealth’s pressure as one of the international forces that helped bring apartheid to an end.

Why do small states owe so much to Ramphal?

Coming from a small Caribbean country, Ramphal understood that tiny island economies faced risks that large countries rarely considered: a single hurricane, a commodity price shock or an external debt crisis could wipe out years of progress. Under his leadership the Commonwealth produced influential work on the vulnerability of small states and argued for their special treatment in global economic policy. That advocacy remains one of the Commonwealth’s most distinctive contributions — today 33 of its 56 members are small states.

Ramphal was also a leading voice on the wider global stage, serving on the Brandt Commission on international development and later co-chairing the Commission on Global Governance.

How was the Secretariat created?

The decision to create a Commonwealth Secretariat was taken by prime ministers at their 1964 conference in London, and the new body was established the following year. Until then, Commonwealth meetings had been organised largely by the British government. The newly independent members of Africa, Asia and the Caribbean wanted an organisation that belonged to all of them equally — and the choice of a Canadian, rather than a Briton, as the first Secretary-General sent a clear signal about that intent.

Smith’s decade also saw the creation of practical programmes that still exist in some form today, including the Commonwealth Youth Programme, established in 1973 to support young people across member countries. After leaving office he set down his experience in a memoir, Stitches in Time: The Commonwealth in World Politics (1981), still a valuable account of how the modern Commonwealth took shape.

What other milestones came under Ramphal?

• The Lusaka Declaration on Racism and Racial Prejudice (1979), in which Commonwealth leaders committed to work for the eradication of racism.
• Global development thinking. His work on the Brandt Commission contributed to its influential 1980 report, North–South: A Programme for Survival, which argued for a fairer global economic system.
• Global governance. After leaving the Secretariat he co-chaired the Commission on Global Governance, whose 1995 report Our Global Neighbourhood set out ideas for reforming international institutions.

He remained an active public figure for decades, including in university leadership — he served as Chancellor of the University of Warwick in England and of the University of the West Indies — and as a respected adviser to Caribbean governments. When he died in 2024, tributes came from across the Commonwealth, with leaders describing him as one of the Caribbean’s greatest statesmen.

Frequently asked questions

Who was the first Commonwealth Secretary-General?

Arnold Smith of Canada was the first Commonwealth Secretary-General, serving from 1965 to 1975.

Who was the longest-serving Commonwealth Secretary-General?

Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal of Guyana served the longest, from 1975 to 1990. Since 1993, Secretaries-General have been limited to two four-year terms.

What was the Gleneagles Agreement?

The 1977 Gleneagles Agreement was a Commonwealth commitment to discourage sporting contacts with apartheid South Africa.

Related on CWN Times: Anyaoku, McKinnon and Sharma · The Commonwealth’s greatest successes · Inside the Commonwealth Secretariat

Ask anyone who has worked across the Commonwealth and they will tell you: conversations often start with cricket. A shared love of the game breaks the ice in boardrooms from London to Mumbai, Bridgetown to Johannesburg. It is no accident that the 2026 Commonwealth summit has put the sport front and centre.

How is cricket part of CHOGM 2026?

Antigua and Barbuda appointed cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards as CHOGM 2026 Envoy. “Cricket has always been much more than a game across the Commonwealth,” he said, describing how it would help bring the summit’s spirit to life by “creating opportunities to work together as one team”.

The Commonwealth Business Forum, which brings ministers and investors together from 2 to 4 November, is being held at the Sticky Wicket cricket ground, and Cricket West Indies is staging a Commonwealth cricket celebration as part of the summit programme. Weeks earlier, Ahmedabad hosted the first Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship — a sign that the Commonwealth’s sporting calendar is widening too.

Why does sport matter for business?

• Trust before transactions. Deals follow relationships, and few things build relationships faster than shared passion.
• Soft power. Sport shapes how countries see each other, opening doors for investment, tourism and education.
• A growing industry in its own right. Broadcasting, sponsorship, academies, venues, events and sports technology are serious commercial sectors across the Commonwealth.
• Community and inclusion. Grassroots and disability sport connect diaspora communities and give businesses meaningful ways to contribute.

How can businesses use sport as a bridge?

For UK firms looking at Commonwealth markets, sport offers practical routes in: hospitality at international fixtures, partnerships with academies and community programmes, sponsorship tied to trade events, and collaboration with sports bodies on facilities, technology and events. The key is authenticity — partnerships that genuinely support the game and its communities earn far more goodwill than logos on a hoarding.

Has sport shaped Commonwealth politics before?

Very much so. One of the Commonwealth’s most important political decisions was about sport. In the 1977 Gleneagles Agreement, Commonwealth governments agreed to discourage sporting contact with apartheid South Africa. In cricket- and rugby-loving countries, the isolation was felt keenly, and it became one of the most visible forms of international pressure on the apartheid system. When South Africa returned to the international game in the early 1990s, it marked one of the clearest signs that the country was changing.

Cricket also carries a unique form of regional unity in the Caribbean. The West Indies team draws players from a group of independent countries and territories that otherwise compete as separate nations — a rare example of sport creating a shared identity across borders.

How big is the business of cricket?

Cricket has become one of the most valuable sports properties in the world, largely thanks to the Twenty20 format and India’s enormous audience. The broadcast rights for the Indian Premier League for 2023 to 2027 were sold for around ₹48,390 crore — roughly US$6 billion — placing it among the most valuable sports leagues globally on a per-match basis. Franchise leagues now run in several Commonwealth countries, including the Caribbean, South Africa, Australia and the UK, with team owners, sponsors and broadcasters investing across borders.

The game’s global profile is set to grow further: cricket will return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028 for the first time since 1900. And the West Indies co-hosted the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with the United States, showing how the Caribbean continues to use major events to attract visitors and investment.

What about the Commonwealth Games?

The Commonwealth Games remain the organisation’s best-known sporting event. They began as the British Empire Games in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930, and are notable for including para-sport events in the same programme as other events. Business forums are often held alongside the Games: the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council ran a Commonwealth Games Business Forum during Birmingham 2022, linking the sporting spotlight to trade and investment. Glasgow was chosen to host the 2026 Games in a more compact format, returning to the city that staged them in 2014.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the CHOGM 2026 envoy?

Antigua and Barbuda appointed cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards as the CHOGM 2026 Envoy.

Where is the Commonwealth Business Forum 2026 held?

The 14th Commonwealth Business Forum takes place from 2 to 4 November 2026 at the Sticky Wicket cricket ground in Antigua and Barbuda.

What is sports diplomacy?

Sports diplomacy is the use of sport to build relationships and understanding between countries, which can support trade, investment, tourism and cultural ties.

Related on CWN Times: CHOGM 2026 opens in Antigua with investment at the top of the agenda · What is the Commonwealth?

Most people know the Commonwealth through the Commonwealth Games, the King’s Commonwealth Day message or the summit photographs of leaders lined up in the sunshine. Far fewer know about the organisation that keeps the whole enterprise running between those moments. The Commonwealth Secretariat is small by the standards of international bodies, yet it serves a family of 56 countries that is home to around 2.7 billion people — roughly a third of humanity.

What is the Commonwealth Secretariat?

The Secretariat is the Commonwealth’s main intergovernmental agency. It was created by Commonwealth prime ministers in 1965, at a time when decolonisation was rapidly adding new independent members and the old model — in which Britain’s Commonwealth Relations Office effectively hosted the club — no longer worked. Leaders wanted an organisation that belonged to all members equally, with its own staff and its own head.

That principle still matters. The Secretariat is not an arm of the British government, even though it sits a short walk from Downing Street. It answers to all 56 members, and its Secretary-General is chosen by heads of government collectively.

Why is it based at Marlborough House?

Marlborough House, built in the early 1700s to a design by Sir Christopher Wren for Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, was a royal residence for much of its history. Queen Elizabeth II placed it at the disposal of the British government for use as a Commonwealth centre, and it has housed the Secretariat since 1965. It is also home to the Commonwealth Foundation, the sister organisation that works with civil society.

The building gives the Commonwealth a distinctive diplomatic stage in London — a neutral meeting place where ministers, High Commissioners and officials from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, Europe and the Americas can meet as equals.

Who runs the Secretariat?

Day to day, the Secretariat is led by the Secretary-General, currently Shirley Botchwey of Ghana, who took office on 1 April 2025. The Secretary-General is supported by deputy secretaries-general and a professional staff drawn from across member countries.

Oversight comes from three levels:

• Heads of government set the overall direction at CHOGM, held every two years, and elect the Secretary-General for terms of four years, with a maximum of two terms.
• The Board of Governors, made up of member countries’ High Commissioners in London, usually meets once a year to approve the Secretariat’s strategic plan, work programme and budget.
• The Executive Committee of the Board meets more frequently to scrutinise performance, finances and delivery between Board meetings.

In September 2025 the Board approved the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030, built on three pillars: democratic resilience, economic resilience and environmental resilience, with young people, women and small states as cross-cutting priorities.

Who pays for the Commonwealth Secretariat?

Member governments do. Each country pays an assessed contribution to the core budget, calculated broadly according to its capacity to pay, so larger and wealthier economies such as the UK, Canada and Australia carry the biggest shares while small island states pay modest amounts. On top of this, governments can make voluntary contributions to specific funds, most notably the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC), set up in 1971 to share expertise between members.

This funding model means every member has a stake in the Secretariat’s success, from the largest economies to the smallest island states.

What does the Secretariat actually do?

Its work falls into a few broad areas:

• Democracy and governance — observing elections, supporting parliaments, strengthening the rule of law and human rights institutions.
• Trade and economic development — advising governments on trade negotiations, investment and the “Commonwealth advantage” of shared language and legal systems.
• Debt and public finance — through its Commonwealth Meridian software and advisory teams, it helps finance ministries record and manage public debt.
• Climate and oceans — through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, which places advisers inside governments to help them secure climate finance, and the Commonwealth Blue Charter on ocean protection.
• Small states advocacy — 33 of the 56 members are small states, and the Secretariat champions their interests in global forums.
• Convening — organising CHOGM and regular meetings of finance, law, health, education, trade, foreign and other ministers.

How is it different from other Commonwealth organisations?

The Commonwealth is a wider family than the Secretariat alone. The Commonwealth Foundation supports civil society; the Commonwealth of Learning, based in Canada, promotes open and distance education; and dozens of accredited professional and civil society bodies — from lawyers and journalists to local government and universities — carry the Commonwealth name. The Commonwealth Games Federation, which runs the Games, is separate again. The Secretariat is the one that works directly for governments.

Which countries does the Secretariat serve?

The Secretariat works for all 56 members, spread across every inhabited continent:

Region	Members
Africa	21
Asia	8
Caribbean and Americas	13
Europe	3
Pacific	11

Members range from India, with well over a billion people, to Nauru and Tuvalu, with populations of around 10,000. That spread is one of the Secretariat’s biggest challenges: it has to be useful to some of the world’s largest economies and to some of its smallest states at the same time.

Does the Secretariat work outside London?

Yes. Small countries often cannot afford full diplomatic missions in the world’s main negotiating centres, so the Commonwealth runs Small States Offices in Geneva and New York. They give member countries without a permanent presence subsidised office space and support, helping them take part in negotiations at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other bodies. Secretariat staff and advisers also work directly in member countries on specific programmes, such as the climate finance advisers placed inside governments.

How can businesses and organisations engage with it?

The Secretariat works mainly with governments, but there are several ways for others to connect with its work. Professional associations, universities and civil society bodies can apply for accreditation, which gives them a recognised relationship with the Commonwealth. Businesses usually engage through the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, which runs the Commonwealth Business Forum alongside each CHOGM, and through programmes such as the Commonwealth Investment Platform, launched in October 2026 to showcase investment-ready projects from member countries.

The Secretariat also publishes a large body of research and policy work through its online library, covering trade, debt, oceans, law and governance. For anyone researching a Commonwealth market, it is a useful and often overlooked resource.

When is the Commonwealth most visible?

Beyond CHOGM, the most visible moment in the Commonwealth calendar is Commonwealth Day, held on the second Monday of March each year, with a service at Westminster Abbey and celebrations across member countries. The Secretariat co-ordinates the theme each year; in 2026 it was “Unlocking opportunities for a prosperous Commonwealth”.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Commonwealth Secretariat based?

The Commonwealth Secretariat is headquartered at Marlborough House on Pall Mall in London, where it has been based since it was founded in 1965.

Is the Commonwealth Secretariat part of the UK government?

No. It is an intergovernmental organisation that serves all 56 member countries equally. Its Secretary-General is elected by Commonwealth heads of government.

How is the Commonwealth Secretariat funded?

Mainly through assessed contributions from member governments, scaled to their capacity to pay, plus voluntary contributions to funds such as the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation.

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