[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-111272-en":3,"doc-seo-111272-105":28,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":88},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":20,"is_downloadable":20,"audit_status":20,"page_count":21,"language":22,"language_code":23,"site_id":24,"html_lang":23,"table_of_contents":25,"faqs":26,"seo_title":13,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":27,"read_time":11},111272,1649267921044,"Ava Thompson","https://us-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/1800007509477c92dfb?_k=1782875107921204101",8,"Research & Report","Statement by Hon. Shirley Botchwey - 113th Meeting of the Development Committee - April 16, 2026","This statement highlights the Commonwealth’s focus on creating an enabling environment for jobs to advance inclusive growth, strengthen economic resilience, and deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives while supporting democracy. It frames decent, sustainable employment as a key test of whether international cooperation is producing meaningful results amid subdued global growth, rising geopolitical tensions, trade fragmentation, and climate shocks. It outlines reforms to the international financial system, sound national macroeconomic management, resource mobilisation, private-sector enablement, expanded access to finance, trade connectivity, skills investment, and inclusive employment for women and youth.","Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized  \nDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE  \n(Joint Ministerial Committee  \nof the  \nBoards of Governors ofthe Bank and the Fund  \non the  \nTransfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries)  \nONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEENTH MEETING  \nWASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 16, 2026  \nDC/S/2026-0003 April 16, 2026  \nStatement by  \nHon. Shirley Botchwey Secretary-General  \nThe Commonwealth  \nStatement by  \nHon. Shirley Botchwey  \nSecretary-General  \nThe Commonwealth  \n113th Meeting of the Development Committee  \nApril 16, 2026  \nWashington, DC  \nThe Commonwealth welcomes the focus of the 113th Meeting of the Development Committee on creating the enabling environment for jobs. This agenda is central to advancing inclusive growth, strengthening economic resilience, delivering tangible improvements in people’s lives and strengthening support for democracy.  \nIt also speaks to a broader imperative. At a time when the global economic and multilateral system is under increasing strain, the ability to generate decent and sustainable jobs has become a critical measure of whether international cooperation is delivering meaningful outcomes.  \nGlobal conditions remain extremely challenging. Growth is subdued, geopolitical tensions are on the rise, and the combined effects of trade fragmentation and intensifying climate shocks are constraining investment and productivity. These pressures are not only slowing economies; they are weakening job creation and widening vulnerabilities, particularly in small and developing states.  \nFor the Commonwealth, this challenge is both urgent and consequential. With a population of 2.7 billion people – more than half under the age of 30 – the creation of meaningful employment opportunities is essential to converting demographic potential into sustained economic progress.  \nCreating an enabling environment for jobs requires strong and coherent foundations at both the global and national levels.  \nAt the global level, reform of the international financial system remains a key priority. Many countries – especially small and climate-vulnerable states – continue to face limited access to affordable, long-term finance. This constrains their ability to invest in resilience, infrastructure, and job creation. A more responsive system is required, including financing frameworks that better reflect vulnerability, expanded access to concessional and long-term capital, and more equitable approaches to credit assessment.  \nAt the national level, sound macroeconomic management remains fundamental. Stability underpins investor confidence and supports sustained growth. At the same time, strengthening domestic resource mobilisation – including through improved tax systems, enhanced compliance, diaspora engagement, and efforts to curb illicit financial flows – is essential to creating the fiscal space needed for investment in jobs and skills.  \nA thriving private sector is central to job creation. This requires an enabling business environment characterised by regulatory clarity, institutional effectiveness, and reduced barriers to enterprise. Investment in infrastructure – both physical and digital – is equally important in supporting productivity and competitiveness.  \nAccess to finance remains a significant constraint, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Expanding access to capital is therefore critical to unlocking job creation at scale. In this regard, the Commonwealth is supporting member countries to connect with institutional investors and mobilise financing for bankable, large-scale projects with strong employment potential, including for women and young people.  \nTrade also plays a vital role. By reducing barriers, strengthening connectivity, and deepening value chains, countries can expand markets and generate employment opportunities. The Commonwealth experience demonstrates the potential of such approaches to support growth and job creation.  \nAt the same time, the global econ","cbCaiqKuU1Fern1O","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqKuU1Fern1O","pdf",183565,1,3,"English","en",105,"# 113th Meeting Focus: Enabling Environment for Jobs\n## Global context and job creation challenge\n## Global-level priorities for reform and finance\n## National-level priorities for stability and resource mobilisation\n## Private sector, infrastructure, and access to finance\n## Trade, structural transformation, and new employment pathways\n## Skills, inclusion, and social protection","[{\"question\":\"Why does the statement emphasize creating an enabling environment for jobs?\",\"answer\":\"It links jobs to inclusive growth, economic resilience, and real improvements in people’s lives, arguing that employment outcomes show whether international cooperation is delivering meaningful results.\"},{\"question\":\"What global reforms does the statement call for to support job creation?\",\"answer\":\"It calls for reform of the international financial system, including more responsive financing for vulnerable countries, expanded access to concessional and long-term capital, and more equitable approaches to credit assessment.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the statement suggest countries can support jobs at the national level?\",\"answer\":\"It highlights sound macroeconomic management for stability and investor confidence, stronger domestic resource mobilisation to create fiscal space for jobs and skills, and measures to curb illicit financial flows.\"}]",1784489399,{"code":4,"msg":29,"data":30},"ok",{"site_id":24,"language":23,"slug":31,"title":13,"keywords":32,"description":14,"schema_data":33,"social_meta":83,"head_meta":85,"extra_data":87,"updated_unix":27},"statement-by-hon-shirley-botchwey-113th-meeting-of-the-development-committee-april-16-2026","",{"@graph":34,"@context":82},[35,51,65],{"@type":36,"itemListElement":37},"BreadcrumbList",[38,42,46,48],{"item":39,"name":40,"@type":41,"position":20},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":43,"name":44,"@type":41,"position":45},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":47,"name":12,"@type":41,"position":21},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",{"item":49,"name":13,"@type":41,"position":50},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/statement-by-hon-shirley-botchwey-113th-meeting-of-the-development-committee-april-16-2026/111272/",4,{"url":49,"name":13,"@type":52,"author":53,"headline":13,"publisher":55,"fileFormat":58,"inLanguage":23,"description":14,"dateModified":59,"datePublished":59,"encodingFormat":58,"isAccessibleForFree":60,"interactionStatistic":61},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":54},"Person",{"url":39,"name":56,"@type":57},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-07-19",true,{"@type":62,"interactionType":63,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":64},"ViewAction",{"@type":66,"mainEntity":67},"FAQPage",[68,74,78],{"name":69,"@type":70,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Why does the statement emphasize creating an enabling environment for jobs?","Question",{"text":72,"@type":73},"It links jobs to inclusive growth, economic resilience, and real improvements in people’s lives, arguing that employment outcomes show whether international cooperation is delivering meaningful results.","Answer",{"name":75,"@type":70,"acceptedAnswer":76},"What global reforms does the statement call for to support job creation?",{"text":77,"@type":73},"It calls for reform of the international financial system, including more responsive financing for vulnerable countries, expanded access to concessional and long-term capital, and more equitable approaches to credit assessment.",{"name":79,"@type":70,"acceptedAnswer":80},"How does the statement suggest countries can support jobs at the national level?",{"text":81,"@type":73},"It highlights sound macroeconomic management for stability and investor confidence, stronger domestic resource mobilisation to create fiscal space for jobs and skills, and measures to curb illicit financial flows.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":49,"og:type":84,"og:title":13,"og:site_name":56,"og:description":14},"article",{"robots":86,"canonical":49},"index,follow",{"doc_id":7,"site_id":24},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":89},[90,94,98,102,107,112,117,120,125,128,132],{"id":20,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":45,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":95,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":50,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":99,"show_sort_weight":100,"slug":101},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":103,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":104,"show_sort_weight":105,"slug":106},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":108,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":109,"show_sort_weight":110,"slug":111},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":113,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":114,"show_sort_weight":115,"slug":116},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":11,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":12,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},30,"research-report",{"id":121,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":122,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":124},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":126,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":127},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":129,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":130,"show_sort_weight":129,"slug":131},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":133,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":44,"category_name":134,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":135},19,"General","general"]