The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of more than 50 independent sovereign states, which provide support to each other, and work together toward international goals. The strength of the Commonwealth is in continuing behind-the-scenes activities of mutual co-operation, consulting and coordination.

The CTO, along with the Commonwealth of Learning, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Commonwealth Secretariat itself are inter-Governmental organisations - ie their members are Governments. At a non-governmental level there are over 120 Commonwealth associations providing professional and technical consultation as well as co-operation and co-ordination of programmes and services. This page provides a link to many of these Commonwealth agencies.