The 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) took place on 21-26 of October in Apia, Samoa, the first Pacific Island Developing State to host this prestigious event. Under the theme “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth” leaders from across the Commonwealth states gathered to discuss pressing global challenges like sustainable development, climate resilience, and security.
Dedicated forums on youth, women, governance and business underscored a commitment to inclusivity, spotlighting diverse voices and intergenerational perspectives to foster a peaceful, sustainable future for Commonwealth countries.
During the event, co-founder and chairman at the DLT Science Foundation, Dr Paolo Tasca, engaged with Commonwealth leaders to outline the foundation’s comprehensive £9 million commitment to advancing digital technology education and implementation across the 56 member states, over 5 years.
The partnership proposal consists of a Global Deeptech Online Hackathon, Deeptech Lecture Series, Online Community Forum on Emerging Digital Technologies, and Blockchain for Development Programmes for State leaders, alongside ongoing workshops. An outstanding initiative within this partnership is the Commonwealth University Certification Registry (CUCER), a blockchain-based system aimed at using the ledger to secure the issuance, transfer, and verification of university certifications across the Commonwealth. CUCER aims to simplify certification processes and strengthen the integrity of academic credentials, ensuring that all Commonwealth countries can benefit from advances in digital technology.
During the summit, Dr Arjoon Suddhoo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership's potential, particularly highlighting the synergistic capabilities of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), and Artificial Intelligence.
"This partnership marks a transformative moment for digital education and innovation across the Commonwealth," said Professor Tasca, following discussions with several Commonwealth leaders, including His Excellency Paul Gomez, the High Commissioner of the Bahamas. Professor Tasca added:
"Our £9 million investment over five years demonstrates our commitment to empowering young people, university students, entrepreneurs, and women across all Commonwealth nations with essential digital skills and resources."
The partnership aims to work with Commonwealth citizens through its educational programmes, providing vital knowledge and tools in emerging technologies, alongside hackathons, workshops, and substantial startup funding opportunities for innovative projects.
For more information about the DLT Science Foundation and its Commonwealth partnership, please visit our website or reach out to our partnerships team.
