A new funding initiative has been launched to expand access to the 2026 Commonwealth People’s Forum, with up to 50 local delegates from Antigua and Barbuda set to receive financial support to offset their participation costs. The program is a joint effort between the Commonwealth Foundation and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, backing the three-day international gathering scheduled to take place from November 2 to 4 at the American University of Antigua (AUA).
Eligibility for the stipend is open exclusively to residents of Antigua and Barbuda, with priority given to civil society leaders, grassroots advocates, and community organizers working across the nation. Tertiary students based in the country are also invited to submit applications for the funding opportunity. Each selected delegate will receive a one-time contribution of EC$430, a sum designed to remove financial barriers that would otherwise prevent interested community representatives from attending the high-level forum. According to the Commonwealth Foundation, the support aims to ensure diverse voices from small island states can contribute meaningfully to global discussions hosted at the event.
To secure the stipend, successful applicants must complete two mandatory steps: finalize their official registration for the Commonwealth People’s Forum and obtain accreditation for the concurrent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) by the September 30 deadline. Awardees are also required to attend all three days of scheduled forum programming, with stipend disbursement scheduled to take place on the final day of the event, November 4.
The Commonwealth People’s Forum is a recurring civil society gathering held in parallel with CHOGM, which brings together non-state actors, community representatives, and stakeholder groups from all 56 member states of the Commonwealth. The 2026 agenda covers a broad range of pressing global and regional issues, including freedom of expression, climate and environmental justice, equitable economic inclusion, responsible artificial intelligence governance, sustainable blue economy development, and global health financing.
The Commonwealth Foundation has issued a note of caution to prospective applicants: submitting an expression of interest does not automatically guarantee a spot at the event. Final acceptance is contingent on remaining venue capacity and successful completion of the full accreditation process, the organization confirmed. All relevant resources, including event registration forms, eligibility criteria, and full program details, are now available online for interested applicants.