If you’ve read our introduction to CHOGM 2022 then you’ll know that aside from the meetings held between government officials there are also four forums taking place. The forums provide further space for people all round the Commonwealth to tackle important issues as they pertain to the forums overriding focus: youth, women, people and business. The forums have always been extremely productive and therefore, it’s important you know the details about each one so you don’t miss a thing!
Commonwealth Youth Forum
The Commonwealth Youth Forum at CHOGM 2022 takes place between the 19th-21st June at the Intare Conference Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Youth Forum (or CYF) will bring up to 300 delegates from across the Commonwealth who will look to build networks, discuss development issues, challenges and opportunities, exchange ideas and create opportunities and youth-led initiatives to enhance their lives.
If you’re attending the Commonwealth Youth Forum look out for Abhiir Bhalla who will be there representing CHEC!
The schedule for the CYF is as follows:
| Date | Time | Event Title | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday 19th June | 10am – 11am | Flag Ceremony | |
| Sunday 19th June | 11am – 11.30am | Opening Ceremony – Taking Charge of our Future | – Artistic Performance – Welcome Remarks – Opening Remarks |
| Sunday 19th June | 11.30am – 1pm | Intergenerational Dialogue: Taking charge of our future | This session will explore the 6 thematic areas to be explored in the forum: Governance and Rule of Law; Technology and Innovation, Sustainability, Human Capital, Health & COVID -19, Trade, Entrepreneurship & Employment. The panel will discuss the role of Youth leadership in affecting needed change, and roles of other actors. |
| Sunday 19th June | 2.30pm – 3.10pm | Youth Leadership Labs I | |
| Sunday 19th June | 3.15pm – 4.15pm | Plenary Session II: Redefining Sustainability | This session will include a keynote address, sharing of stories of impact, and a panel of experts, changemakers and influencers which will explore and redefine “sustainability” under the current social, political and economic context. The panel will look at better and innovative ways to achieve new standards. |
| Sunday 19th June | 4.15pm – 5.30pm | Youth Leadership Labs II | |
| Sunday 19th June | 5.30pm – 7pm | Plenary III: Fireside Chat | |
| Monday 20th June | 9am – 10am | Plenary Session IV | |
| Monday 20th June | 10am – 12pm | Youth Leadership Labs III | |
| Monday 20th June | 1pm – 2.15pm | Plenary Session V: Youth champions of Innovation for Transformation and Development | This session will include a keynote address, sharing of stories of impact, and a panel of experts, changemakers and influencers who will explore Innovation, Technology and how the youth can leverage their knowledge to accelerate impact. |
| Monday 20th June | 2.15pm – 4pm | Youth Leadership Labs IV | |
| Monday 20th June | 4.15pm – 5.30pm | Plenary Session VI: Co-creation and Partnerships | This session will include a keynote address, sharing of stories of impact, and a panel of experts, changemakers and influencers who will provide tips and insights to identifying and forming strategic partnerships required to take projects and ideas forward |
| Monday 20th June | 5.30pm – 6pm | Closing of Day 2 and Reflection | |
| Tuesday 21st June | CYC General Assembly Partner Side Events | Partners will lead various sessions will equip the youth with the skills they require to execute their projects. | |
| Tuesday 21st June | Closing Ceremony | CYC Installation Presentation of the action plan for 2022 – 2024 Youth Declaration Closing remarks |
NB – The above timetable omits networking, lunch/dinner and other activities. For the full schedule for the Commonwealth Youth Forum please see the Commonwealth Youth Forum website.
Commonwealth Women Forum
The Commonwealth Women Forum takes place on the 20th and 21st June at the Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda. The CWF, as it’s known, has a theme focused on Transforming for Gender Equality.
The Women Forum looks to promote top-level policies for gender equality and human rights while also providing opportunities for women to interact with Heads of Government. It’s expected that up to 500 delegates will take part in the CWF to ensure that the Commonwealth’s gender equality obligations are highlighted to the Heads of Government.
The CWF will include leaders from a variety of areas including:
- Civil society
- Youth
- Activists
- Academics
- Influencers
- Policy Experts
- Philanthropists
- Corporate actors
- Experts from multiple industries
If you’re attending the Commonwealth Youth Forum look out for Abhiir Bhalla who will be there representing CHEC!
The schedule for the CWF is as follows:
| Date | Time | Event Title | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 20th June | 9am – 10.30am | Opening Session and Reflections on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights 2020-2030 | |
| Monday 20th June | 11am – 12.30am | Women in leadership: Beyond numbers | |
| Monday 20th June | 1.30pm – 3pm | Women’s Economic Empowerment: Breaking the Barriers | |
| Monday 20th June | 3.30pm – 5.30pm | Parallel Sessions | Option 1: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls: Engaging Men Option 2: Intergenerational Celebration |
| Tuesday 21st June | 9am – 11am | Gender and Climate Change: interactions & opportunities for progress | |
| Tuesday 21st June | 11.30am – 1.30pm | Parallel Sessions | Option 1: Addressing barriers to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment – Accounting for Gender Equality Option 2: Human capital development: Building leaders of tomorrow |
| Tuesday 21st June | 2.30pm – 4pm | Parallel sessions | Option 1: Peace in the Commonwealth: women’s engagement in security and peace Option 2: Conquering Cervical Cancer in the Commonwealth: Realities, Challenges and Opportunities? |
| Tuesday 21st June | 4.30pm – 5.30pm | Wrap up of the Commonwealth Women’s Forum |
NB – The above timetable omits networking, lunch/dinner and other activities. For the full schedule for the Commonwealth Women Forum please see the Commonwealth Women Forum website .
Commonwealth People’s Forum
The Commonwealth People’s Forum takes place on the 21st and 22nd June at the M Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda. The People’s Forum, sometimes referenced as CPF, focuses on the theme: Advancing Together: Delivering people-centred governance through the Commonwealth.
It will see representatives from civil society from around the Commonwealth examine and tackle challenges that citizens of the Commonwealth continue to face. In doing so, it will look to address the most pressing concerns and answer “How can we bring the finest of humankind, the powers of love, compassion, equality, and justice, to bear on our shared future?”
Make sure you look out for Abhiir Bhalla, Isaac Aboah, Badara Bajo and CHEC Chairman, Mark Robinson who will all be in attendance representing CHEC at the Commonwealth People’s Forum.
The schedule for the CPF is as follows:
| Date | Time | Event Title |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 21st June | 9am – 9.45am | Opening Session: A Commonwealth Vision |
| Tuesday 21st June | 9.45am – 11am | Session One: Building Resilient and Equitable National Health Systems |
| Tuesday 21st June | 11.30am – 1pm | Session Two: Climate Justice and Leadership for Change in the Commonwealth |
| Tuesday 21st June | 2.30pm – 4.30pm | Session Three: Health and Finance: Meeting the Immediate Challenge of Financing |
| Wednesday 22nd June | 9am – 10.30am | Session Four: Innovations in Participatory Governance |
| Wednesday 22nd June | 11am – 12.30pm | Session Five: Advancing Freedom of Expression in the Commonwealth |
| Wednesday 22nd June | 2pm – 3.30pm | Session Six: A Commonwealth for All |
NB – The above timetable omits networking, lunch/dinner and other activities. For the full schedule for the Commonwealth People’s Forum please see the Commonwealth People’s Forum website.
Commonwealth Business Forum
The Commonwealth Business Forum takes place on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd June in Kigali, Rwanda. For CHOGM 2022, the CBF will address the theme: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.
The Business Forum is tasked with creating meaningful connections between all attendees while also promoting the exchange of knowledge. It is being hosted in partnership with the Government of Rwanda and Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) and will look to focus on a “global reset” as the Commonwealth and World recovers from the economic implications of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The CBF features hundreds of speakers and has an impressive list of keynote speakers including:
- Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda
- Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
- Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Commonwealth Secretary-General
- Lord Jonathan Marland Chairman, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council
- Clare Akamanzi CEO, Rwanda Development Board
CHEC is being represented at the Commonwealth Business Forum by Chairman Mark Robinson.
The schedule for the CBF is as follows:
| Date | Time | Event Title | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 21st June | 10am – 11am | Opening Ceremony: Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming | |
| Tuesday 21st June | 11.30am – 1pm | Opening Plenary | A Global Reset: Leveraging the Commonwealth for a Global Recovery |
| Tuesday 21st June | 2pm – 3.30pm | Options 1 | Option 1: Commonwealth Trade: Challenging Protectionisms and Reducing the Barriers to Business Option 2: Positioning the Commonwealth for the Future of Work Option 3: Innovation Avenue Mixer: Innovation in the Commonwealth Option 4: Innovating for Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems Think Tank |
| Tuesday 21st June | 4pm – 5.30pm | Options 2 | Option 1: The Business of Sustainable Fashion Option 2: Transforming Rwanda into a Pan-African Financial Hub: The KIFC Journey Option 3: The Future of Africa’s Agricultural Sector: Youth, Technology & Innovation |
| Wednesday 22nd June | 9.30am – 11am | Options 3 | Option 1: Ecosystems: Redesigning Global Value Chains in a Post- COVID World Option 2: Technology Governance: Are we prepared? Option 3: Launch of Coventry University Africa Hub Option 4: Accelerating the Transition to Sustainable Energy Think Tank |
| Wednesday 22nd June | 11.30am – 1pm | Options 4 | Option 1: Our Common Health: Delivering Equitable Healthcare Option 2: Innovative Financing, Supporting Future Growth Option 3: Sector Mixer: Champions for Green Option 4: Skilling the Commonwealth for the Future Think Tank |
| Wednesday 22nd June | 2pm – 3.30pm | Options 5 | Option 1: Bridging the Digital Divide Option 2: Impact Investments: Unleashing the power of capital for good Option 3: Thought Leadership Think Tank: Financial and Professional Services Option 4: Private sector investments in nature based solution & biodiversity Option 5: Field visit: The Business of Healthcare |
| Wednesday 22nd June | 4pm – 5.30pm | Options 6 | Option 1: Financing Blue-Green Growth for Sustainable Islands Option 2: Sustainable Tourism & Travel Option 3: Investing in Cameroon |
| Thursday 23rd June | 9am – 9.45am | Investing in Rwanda | |
| Thursday 23rd June | 9.45am – 11am | Options 7 | Option 1: Future Cities: Sustainable Urbanisation Option 2: Investing in Botswana |
| Thursday 23rd June | 11.15am – 12.30pm | A Challenge to the Commonwealth: Towards a Sustainable World | |
| Thursday 23rd June | 12.30pm – 1.20pm | Closing Ceremony | |
| Thursday 23rd June | 2pm – 3.30pm | Heads of Government and CEOs Roundtable | Invite Only |
NB – The above timetable omits networking, lunch/dinner and other activities. For the full schedule for the Commonwealth Business Forum please see the Commonwealth Business Forum website.
Individuals are still able to apply to join the Commonwealth Business Forum and can do so here: Commonwealth Business Forum Application
The Forums at CHOGM 2022
So there you have it – the four forums at CHOGM 2022. We will keep updating this page with further information as and when we have it but in the meantime, please let us know if you are planning on attending any of the forums! Let us know in the comments below and please do look out for the CHEC delegates attending.
Also, for all the latest information from CHOGM 2022 check out our dedicated CHOGM 2022 Page.