Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC)

Address:

Deputy Secretary-General (Economic and Social Development) Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall
London SW1Y 5HX UK

Telephone: (44) 20 7747 6385 / 20 7747 6386

Fax: (44) 20 7930 0827

Email: info@commonwealth.int

Website: www.thecommonwealth.org

Year established: 1971

Officers (2015):

Deputy Secretary-General, Economic and Social Development: Deodat Maharaj

Aims and objectives:

The CFTC is the Commonwealth Secretariat’s principal source of funding that supports the delivery of development assistance to Commonwealth member countries. The main purpose of the CFTC is to promote development in the Commonwealth using practical approaches of co-operation and mutual assistance. It is a mutual and voluntary co-operation fund where members contribute resources according to their ability and draw on them according to their needs.

CFTC programmes are demand led, with an emphasis on South–South co-operation and gender mainstreaming, and are responsive to the critical development needs of Commonwealth member countries. The CFTC’s assistance is focused on delivering tangible results and covers a range of areas that reflect the needs of member countries and the parameters of the Secretariat’s Strategic Plan.

Main activities:

The CFTC provides capacity building and institutional strengthening assistance to developing member countries, especially small states and least- developed members. Assistance is provided through professionals who share their skills and experience to maximise the development potential of member states and to build the capacity of key national and regional institutions. The CFTC also supports and develops training programmes at centres of excellence throughout the Commonwealth to build capacity in priority areas of need.

Current CFTC programme focuses include oceans and natural resource management, debt management, health and education, and public sector governance.