The 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) opens in Kigali Friday after five days of intensive deliberations around matters close to the hearts of the 2.5 billion people of the 54-nation community.

Thousands of delegates representing different segments of Commonwealth population, including the youth, women, businesses and civil society (people), have had the opportunity to dive deep into the most pressing global issues of mutual interest, challenges and opportunities.

They’ve voiced their concerns and shared experiences and ideas around best practice and on how best their governments can help empower them so they can play their own part, for instance through enabling innovation, digitalisation, integration, skills development, among others.

Thought-provoking conversations have also taken place in different side events, addressing some of the most outstanding threats to humans, including climate change, public health crises, disease, and violent extremism.

Participants also showcased opportunities that can further be leveraged to accelerate delivery on key commitments.

Across the different CHOGM venues in town, these deliberations have been deeply engaging and inclusive, allowing for the government leaders of the Commonwealth a perfect opportunity to discuss and make decisions that directly respond to the people’s concerns.

As observed by President Paul Kagame, the incoming Chair-In-Office of the Commonwealth, at the Commonwealth Business Forum earlier in the week, what people want to see is delivery on commitments.  

As the Commonwealth leaders gather to deliberate on key issues of global concern, their citizens are hoping they’ll emerge from the two-day meeting with a greater desire to translate commitments into tangible actions, across the board.

Building on the ideas and recommendations that came from the just-concluded pre-CHOGM conversations is a good place to start. It allows for politicians to show leadership and go far enough to respond to the challenges at hand.

In Kigali, the leaders of the Commonwealth are expected to not just renew their commitments but rather show leadership that goes far enough to inspire the community and the world toward making significant progress on multiple fronts, thereby helping make the world a better place.

There lies the essence of this year’s CHOGM theme: Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.