FAQs

1) What is Commonwealth Connects, and how does it work?

Designed to support initiatives across the Commonwealth community, Commonwealth Connects is a multi-purpose web portal. Its goal is to provide a single window to Commonwealth web sites and activities.   Its purpose is to:

• Showcase the Commonwealth and its values
• Increase the visibility of Commonwealth work and activities
• Enable access to personalized information
• Encourage communications and cooperation among Commonwealth agencies
• Support professional networking and collaboration by providing secure online workplaces.

2) Is it a replacement for existing Commonwealth web sites?

No. It will exist alongside and complement existing sites through Web links and a cross-site search engine . The idea of the Commonwealth Portal is to act as a signpost for finding web-based resources and material, with the added advantage of users being able to access it from a single place.

3) What can we use Commonwealth Connects to do?

The site provides a ‘one stop shop’ for accessing information and resources from the many organisations and associations that carry the Commonwealth name. Rather than having to search through dozens of web sites, people will be able to find the information they need in a few clicks, thanks to the robust search engine that Commonwealth Connects provides.  The portal also uses the power of modern web technologies and social media tools to provide an effective vehicle to support the building of professional partnerships.

Individuals can also sign up to become a ‘Friend of the Commonwealth’, making it possible for them to receive alerts about jobs, scholarships, internships and other information of particular interest to them. They can also interact with other users through blogs and comments.

4) How do we join communities or build partnerships?

Through Commonwealth Communities Online, professionals can participate in password-protected online workspaces where they can work together with colleagues from across the Commonwealth on a particular project or subject area. For example, professionals working on elections management can form a community in the secure area to discuss and share ideas, information, experiences, policies and good practice in planning for and delivering successful elections.

5) What will I find when I go to Commonwealth Connects?

On entering, visitors will find information about what Commonwealth organisations do, which is organized around the themes of Democracy, Development and Communities, with details on how to participate and contribute. The secure ‘social workplace’ will host various ‘communities of professional practice’ on areas such as health, education, trade, media and law.  For individuals, there will be an opportunity to join as a ‘Friend’ and receive customized information, such as job alerts.

The web portal will have a calendar of major events taking place across the Commonwealth and news. It will also provide a central location for videos and images from Commonwealth organizations.

6) Who built Commonwealth Connects?

The Commonwealth Secretariat has joined with a leading technology company, Open Text, and partnered with other Commonwealth agencies such as the Commonwealth Foundation, the Royal Commonwealth Society, and COMNET, to create Commonwealth Connects.

The web portal will have a calendar of major events taking place across the Commonwealth and news. It will also provide a central location for videos and images from Commonwealth organizations.

Commonwealth Connects forms part of a plan to harness modern Internet technologies to strengthen the Commonwealth as an international community. As such, it can play an important role in the process of Commonwealth reform and renewal currently pear-headed by the work of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (EPG). Commonwealth Connects responds directly to calls by the EPG for ‘greater coordination among Commonwealth agencies, more visibility and coherence for Commonwealth goals and values, and stronger ties to civil society and youth.’

Commonwealth Connects was formerly known as CP3 (Commonwealth Partnership Platform Portal), endorsed by Heads of Government at their meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in 2009.

7) Does this replace the Commonwealth Connects programme?

The new Commonwealth Connects web portal builds on the work of the Commonwealth Connects programme, which is aimed at making ICT more widely available within the Commonwealth.

8) How is Commonwealth Connects funded?

Development of the portal has been funded through the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC), and the Commonwealth Connects Special Fund (GIDD) and Open Text, a Canadian company which is providing the technical infrastructure.

9) When was it launched?

Commonwealth Connects went live in October at CHOGM 2011.

10) Who is responsible for content on the Commonwealth Connects portal?

The Commonwealth Connects Team will maintain and update content in collaboration with Commonwealth organizations such as the Commonwealth Secretariat.

11) Will all the 70-odd Commonwealth agencies be featured and searchable on Commonwealth Connects when it goes live in October?

Currently, not all Commonwealth agencies have web sites with searchable content.  The ‘line-up’ at launch will include a group of the major Commonwealth agencies, including the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Foundation, Royal Commonwealth Society, CAPAM and others.

12) Will member countries have a presence on Commonwealth Connects?

Eventually, the web site will link to a wide range of information and knowledge resources sourced from member countries. Member countries can also make use of the online workplace to take part in Commonwealth networks, forums and communities of practice.

 13) Since this portal will have the power of raising the profile of the Commonwealth, is the Commonwealth logo going to be included?

Commonwealth Connects represents the Commonwealth community as a whole which consists of 54 countries, over 70 associations, each with their own distinctive logo or brand and a countless number of informal groups and networks.  The Commonwealth Secretariat logo and those of other organizations will feature on the partnerships page and on the linked pages to their own web site.  The Commonwealth Connects badge itself features a 54 point grid which is emblematic of the country membership of the Commonwealth and the traditional logo.