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2024-12-31-accounts

COMMONWEALTH

2024 Annual Return

Annual return to the UK Charities Commission from the Commonwealth Association of Architects.

Date created: 22 October 2025

Contents

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||| |---|---| |REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION|................................................. 3| |Board of Trustees - Changes to the Board of Trustees|.... 3| |Constitution Article IX (Charitable Status and Board of| |Trustees)|............................................................................................... 3| |Council and Officers 2024-2026|................................................. 3| |Education Committee|......................................................................... 3| |Practice Committee|............................................................................. 3| |Regional Vice Presidents|................................................................... 3| |Youth Representative on Council|.................................................. 4| |Secretariat|................................................................................................ 4| |Bankers|................................................................................................. 4| |Independent Examiner|.................................................................. 4| |STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT|....................... 5| |Objectives and Aims|....................................................................... 5| |Advocacy|.............................................................................................. 5| |Capacity Building|............................................................................. 6| |Climate Action|................................................................................... 6| |PUBLIC BENEFIT|......................................................................................... 6| |Advocacy|.............................................................................................. 6| |Capacity Building|............................................................................. 6| |Climate Action|................................................................................... 6| |Collaboration and Partnership|................................................... 7| |ACTIVITIES|..................................................................................................... 9| |STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES|.......... 12| |INDEPENDENT EXAMINER|................................................................... 13| |ACCOUNTS|.................................................................................................. 13|

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2024 Annual Report

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Board of Trustees - Changes to the Board of Trustees

During the reporting period, the following changes were recorded in the composition of the CAA Board of Trustees, reflecting both new appointments and retirements:

Constitution Article IX (Charitable Status and Board of Trustees)

  1. The Association shall be a UK-based Charity and therefore be compliant with the Charity Commission rules.

  2. A Board of Trustees comprising five Trustees (not less than three of whom shall be resident in England and Wales) and shall be appointed by the Council (for a term of office). The Board of Trustees shall be responsible for the depository of the records of the association at such a location in England or Wales as the Council decides.

  3. The Trustee Board has the responsibility for preparing and submitting all necessary records and accounts of the Association to the relevant statutory UK authority (UK Charity Commission, UK Tax Office).

Council and Officers 2024-2026

Elected at the 24th General Assembly, Kigali Rwanda, 22 August 2024.

Education Committee

Practice Committee

Regional Vice Presidents

3

Youth Representative on Council

Secretariat

Bankers

Independent Examiner

4

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Trustees hereby present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

The Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) is an unincorporated association registered as a charity with the Charity Commission of the United Kingdom (Charity No. 288022). The Association’s supreme body is the General Assembly, which is convened every two years to elect the Council and Officers. The most recent General Assembly was held on 22 August 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda, during which the Council for the 2024–2026 term was elected. During the Kigali General Assembly, the CAA also adopted a new Strategy for the 2024–2030 period and approved a Business Plan for the current 2024–2026 session, providing a clear framework for the Association’s priorities and activities over the coming years.

The Council is comprised of five regional Vice Presidents, representing Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific. As part of its ongoing governance reforms, the Council has reorganised its committee structure and now operates through two main bodies: the Education Committee and the Professional Practice Committee. In addition, the Council has established a new position for a Youth Representative to enhance engagement with emerging professionals across the Commonwealth. Trustees of the Association are volunteers nominated by member organisations and formally appointed by the Council.

Objectives and Aims

The objectives of the Association, set out in its Constitution, are the advancement of Architecture in the Commonwealth and the promotion and acquisition of knowledge of the various arts and sciences connected therewith. The Association is empowered in particular to:

The CAA’s current aims, grouped under the following headings, are:

Advocacy

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Capacity Building

Climate Action

Helping to build core competencies and climate literacy in matters relating to sustainable urbanisation and climate action.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

The Council and Trustees have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on the public benefit requirement for UK charities and have considered how planned activities meet this requirement.

During the year the charity has furthered its charitable purposes for the public benefit through;

Advocacy

Guided by the CAA Strategy (2024–2030) and Business Plan (2024–2026), the Association has focused its advocacy work on raising a stronger, united voice for built environment professionals across the Commonwealth. In the first half of the term, key efforts have included building partnerships with institutions and policymakers, representing the Association at major international forums, expanding the Good Practice Library, and showcasing the 2024 CAA Awards while shaping plans for future editions.

Through participation in high-level global engagements, the CAA has ensured that architects and allied professionals are actively represented in shaping international policy and discourse on the built environment. These platforms have not only enhanced the visibility of the Association’s work but also reinforced strategic alliances and advanced the profession’s role in promoting sustainable development. These engagements are highlighted in the activity schedule below. Collectively, these activities have strengthened the CAA’s advocacy reach across the Commonwealth and supported delivery of its long-term strategic objectives.

Capacity Building

Capacity building remains central to the CAA’s mandate and Strategy (2024–30). During this session, efforts have focused on strengthening partnerships with organisations such as UN-Habitat and IFC Edge, delivering a regular programme of online CPD events, and expanding the Knowledge Sharing Partnership as a platform for research and policy support. Work has also advanced in building academic collaboration, developing core competencies in sustainability and climate literacy, and deepening youth engagement through the Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation (CYSU) network.

Climate Action

The CAA remains strongly committed to climate action, working to promote climate literacy across the built environment sector. The Association continues to leverage its capacity-building and advocacy programmes to raise awareness and strengthen understanding of climate issues among academia, practitioners, and policymakers.

6

Collaboration and Partnership

Collaboration with FCDO, Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI) and other Commonwealth Accredited Organisations, such as the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP), the Commonwealth Association of Surveyors and Land Economists (CASLE), the Commonwealth Engineers Council (CEC). the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) and a range of other partners.

Collaboration with other international/regional associations of architects such as the International Union of Architects (UIA), the East African Institute of Architects (EAIA) and the Association of Commonwealth Societies of Architects in the Caribbean (ACSAC).

MEMBERSHIP

The Members of the Association are institutes, associations, and societies which, in the opinion of the Council, represent the body of architects in a country and subscribe to the purposes and objects of the Association. They must be constituted in a manner consistent with the policies of the Association and not discriminate against their own members or potential members on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, national origin or political persuasion. The current membership is drawn from the following organisations.

Country Institute/Association
1. Antigua & Barbuda Antigua & Barbuda Institute of Architects
2. Australia Royal Australian Institute of Architects
3. Bahamas Institute of Bahamian Architects
4. Bangladesh Institute of Architects Bangladesh
5. Barbados Barbados Institute of Architects
6. Belize Association of Professional Architects of Belize
7. Bermuda Institute of Bermuda Architects
1. Botswana Architects Association of Botswana
2. Brunei Darussalam Pertubuhan Ukur Jurutera Dan Arkitek
3. Cameroon Ordre National Des Architectes du Cameroun
4. Cyprus Cyprus Civil Engineers & Architects Association
5. Dominica Dominica Society of Architects
6. eSwatini Swaziland Association of Architects, Engineers
and Surveyors
7. Fiji Fiji Association of Architects
8. Gambia, The Association of Gambian Architects
9. Ghana Ghana Institute of Architects
_10. _ Grenada Grenada Society of Architects
11. Guyana Guyana Institute of Architects
_12. _ Hong Kong SAR Hong Kong Institute of Architects
_13. _ India Indian Institute of Architects
_14. _ Jamaica Jamaica Institute of Architects
_15. _ Kenya Architectural Association of Kenya
_16. _ Lesotho Lesotho Architects Engineers & Surveyors
Association
_17. _ Malawi Malawi Institute of Architects

7

18. Maldives Architects Association Maldives 19. Malta Kamra Tal-Periti 20. Mauritius Mauritius Institute of Architects 21. Namibia Namibia Institute of Architects 22. New Zealand New Zealand Institute of Architects 23. Nigeria Nigerian Institute of Architects 24. Pakistan Institute of Architects Pakistan 25. Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Institute of Architects. 26. Rwanda Rwanda Institute of Architects 27. Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Institute of Architects 28. Singapore Singapore Institute of Architects 29. South Africa South African Institute of Architects 30. Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Institute of Architects

31. St Kitts and Nevis

32. St Lucia

33. St Vincent and The Grenadines

34. Tanzania 35. Togo 36. Trinidad & Tobago 37. Uganda 38. United Kingdom 39. Zambia

St Kitts and Nevis Institute of Architects St. Lucia Association of Architects St. Vincent & The Grenadines Institute of Architects

Architectural Association of Tanzania L’Ordre National des Architectes du Togo Trinidad And Tobago Institute of Architects Uganda Society of Architects Royal Institute of British Architects Zambia Institute of Architects

During the year under review the following national architectural bodies were full members of the Association:

  1. Antigua & Barbuda Inst of Architects

  2. Architectural Association of Kenya

  3. Bangladesh Institute of Architects

  4. Barbados Institute of Architects

  5. Botswana, Architects Association of

  6. Bahamian Institute of Architects

  7. Cameroon Institute of Architects

  8. Cyprus Civil Engineers & Architects Association

  9. Fiji Association of Architects

  10. Ghana Institute of Architects

  11. Hong Kong Institute of Architects

  12. Institute of Architects Pakistan

  13. Jamaica Institute of Architects

  14. Kamra tal-Periti

  15. Nigeria Institute of Architects

  16. Papua & New Guinea Institute of Architects

  17. Royal Institute of British Architects

  18. Royal Architectural Institute of Canada

  19. Royal Australian Institute of Architects

  20. Rwanda Institute of Architects

  21. Sierra Leone Institute of Architects

  22. South Africa Institute of Architects

8

  1. Sri Lanka Institute of Architects

  2. Trinidad & Tobago Institute of Architects

  3. Uganda Society of Architects

  4. Zambia Institute of Architects

ACTIVITIES

The following provides an overview of some of the activities undertaken by members of the Commonwealth Association of Architects in 2024:

Description Country
SeveralCouncil meetingswere held every two months
throughout the year by means of videoconferencing.		 Commonwealth-wide
CHOGM 2024:Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting (CHOGM), Samoa, 21–26 October 2024 – where
CAA contributed to dialogue on climate resilience,
sustainability, and inclusive development across
the Commonwealth. The CHOGM 2024 Communiqué
reaffirmed the 2022 Kigali Declaration on Sustainable
Urbanisation, recognising once again the importance of
sustainable urbanisation and the work of the
Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI). This
continuity from the 2022 CHOGM in Kigali reflects the
sustained efforts of the CAA and its partners—the
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU),
Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP),
Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), Rwanda
Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), and The King’s
Foundation. For CAA, this recognition strengthens its
advocacy role within the Commonwealth,
positioning the Association as a key contributor to the
collective effort of promoting safe, resilient,
and prosperous cities across Member States.		 Samoa
WUF 12:World Urban Forum 12 (WUF12), Cairo, 4–8
November 2024 – engaging in global exchanges on
sustainable urbanisation, housing, and equitable cities.
During this Forum we:
Chaired CAA led Networking Event on the subject of
‘Transforming Education and Building Capacity to Deliver
Climate Action in Cities’. Other contributors included the
Global Planners Education Association Network, Planners
for Climate Action and UN Habitat Capacity Building &
Training Unit;
Contributed to a UN Habitat led Networking Event together
with the Commonwealth Association of Planners and the
Commonwealth Lawyers Association at which we		 Egypt

9

undertook a soft launch of the UN-Habitat ‘Legal Checklist
for Cities. An initial engagement has since been initiated
with the City of Nakuru, Kenya, to pilot its application.
Contributed to a Networking Event hosted by the UN-
Habitat Stakeholder Advisory group (SAGE).
Co-Hosted a donor’s roundtable on the Rapidly Growing
Cities Challenge Prize with Challenge Works and the
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. The event was attended by
a variety of potential donors including the UK Government,
(FCDO) the German Government (GIZ), C40 and others.
Contributed to the UN-Habitat Academia Roundtable.
COP29: CAA was represented in the UNEP/GlobalABC COP
Task Force discussions, securing visibility for the Association
at COP29 and contributing proposals aligned with UN
initiatives in the lead-up to COP30. This engagement
reinforces CAA’s commitment to global climate action and
positions the Association as an active contributor to
international dialogues on sustainable buildings and
construction.
At COP29, discussions centred on advancing sustainability
in the built environment through five key areas: adopting a
“sufficiency first” approach to reduce demand and optimise
existing spaces; promoting decarbonisation and circularity
via whole-life carbon assessments, sustainable materials,
and standardised targets; mobilising climate finance
through blended finance, green bonds, and public
investment; empowering SMEs with access to finance,
training, and partnerships; and mainstreaming nature-
based solutions such as green roofs, urban forests,
and wetlands to enhance resilience and adaptation.		 Commonwealth-wide
CAA was represented at the International Union of
Architects Extraordinary General Assembly, Kuala Lumpur,
November 2024 – participating in deliberations on global
architectural priorities and governance, while building
stronger links with peer organisations worldwide.		 Malaysia
Continuous Professsional Development
CAA has continued to organise and participate in CPD
programmes on themes aligned with the
CAA Strategy, while also creating opportunities for
members to build skills and share knowledge
in response to emerging global challenges. Some of the
CPD Programmes delivered in 2024
took part in included:		 Commonwealth-wide

10

Keynote CPD – Kigali, Rwanda (Aug 2024): Co-hosted with
the_Rwanda Institute of Architects_and_University of_
Rwanda_under the theme“Education, Policy and Practice:
_Advancing the Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation.”
The event brought together academics, practitioners, and
policymakers to discuss innovation in education, design,
and sustainability, reinforcing CAA’s leadership in
advancing the 2022 Kigali Declaration.
Online CPD – Making Building Codes Work (Mar 2024):
Explored lessons from Pacific and Caribbean nations on
strengthening national building codes and overcoming
implementation barriers across the Commonwealth.
Online CPD – Making Natural Building Materials Work (Jun
2024): Examined low-carbon materials such as bamboo,
rammed earth, sugarcrete, and eco-bricks, highlighting
practical applications for sustainable construction.
CAA Online CPD: Delivered a CPD Programme during the
UN World Cities Day, 31 October 2024. This was themed
around showcasing the CAA Environment Impact Award
winner MASS DESIGN GROUP – The Rwanda Institute for
Conservation Agriculture.
Regional Outreach – Nigeria & Ghana (Nov 2024):
The CAA President addressed both Institutes’ Annual
Conferences, presenting on_“The Economic Significance of_
a Quality Built Environment”_and“Architects as Agents for_
Social Transformation.”
International Representation – EAROPH World Congress
(Dec 2024): CAA participated in the 29th EAROPH Congress
in Islamabad, Pakistan strengthening regional and
professional collaboration.
As part of its Knowledge Sharing Partnership, CAA
published the findings of its_Survey of National Building_
_Codes_to coincide with the final day of COP29. The report
highlighted variations in regulatory frameworks across the
Commonwealth and underscored the importance of
harmonising standards to support climate-responsive
design and sustainable urban development
Standing Conference on Schools of Architecture
(SCOSA):The CAA participated in the Annual Meeting of
SCOSA, where it was invited to deliver an address. The
engagement generated strong interest from several
universities seeking collaboration with the Association.
Follow-up discussions are underway with institutions
including the University of Westminster, the University of
East London,and the Universityof Southampton.		 United Kingdom

11

CAA Youth Engagement

Commonwealth-wide

The Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) remains an active member of the Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation (CYSU), engaging closely with young professionals and students across the Commonwealth to advance the shared vision of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities.

The CAA has reinforced its commitment to inclusion and succession by establishing a Youth Representative position on the Council. This role ensures that the voices, perspectives, and priorities of young professionals are integrated into CAA’s governance, programmes, and decision-making processes.

Pacific Student & Graduate Youth Network: A Pacific Youth Network has been formed, jointly coordinated by the Regional Vice President and Youth Representative, providing a platform for students and recent graduates to connect, exchange ideas, and collaborate on regional initiatives that shape the future of the profession.

Commonwealth Survey (2025): Ongoing survey of students and early-career professionals (ages 18–35) to identify knowledge gaps, challenges, and aspirations, generating insights to inform capacity-building, CPD, and communication strategies.

STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES

The Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Rosie Forsyth was re-appointed as the charity’s independent examiner during the year and has expressed her willingness to continue in that capacity.

The report is approved by the Council and Trustees on the 20[th] day of October 2025 and is attached.

ACCOUNTS

Are Attached

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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS members of

On accounts for the year 31 DECEMBER 2024 Charity no 288022 ended (if any)

Set out on pages

1-2

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2024.

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:[R J Fors][y][th ] Date: 20/10/2025 ~~PF |~~

Name: ROSEMARY FORSYTH ~~Cs~~ Relevant professional ACA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: INGLEWOOD NORTHERN HEIGHTS, BOURNE END

BUCKS, SL8 5LE

~~ee~~

1

October 2018

IER

Commonwealth Association of Architects Commonwealth Association of Architects Commonwealth Association of Architects 288022 288022
Receipts and payments accounts
Period start date
To
For the period from
1 Jan 2024
~~a~~		 Period end date
31 Dec 2024		 CC16a
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts (All Income)
- - - - - -
Annual MembershipSubscriptions 48,559 - - - 48,559 46,067
Bank Interest Earned 1,488 - - - 1,488 1,104
Miscellaneous income - - - - - 200
- - - - - -
- - - - - -
- - - - - -
- - - - - -
Sub total(Gross income for (Gross income for
AR) AR) 50,047 - - - 50,047 47,371
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
-
-
Sub total -
Total receipts 50,047
~~=~~		 -
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
50,047
47,371
~~SS~~
A3 Payments (All Expenses)
- - - - -
Secretariat Fees 7,890.00 - - - 7,890 5,886
President's Travel & Expenses 4,495.00 - - - 4,495 1,825
General & ExtraordinaryAssemblies 12,936.00 12,936 -
Communications Activity 1,462.00 1,462 1,206
Surveyof the Profession 643.00 643 493
Miscellaneous Meetings & Events 650.00 650 -
Awards Programme 8,770.00 8,770 -
Website hostingand maintenance 2,617.00 2,617 16,977
BrandingExercise 9,587.00 9,587 13,130
Validation Activies - - 1,830
Commonwealth Day - - 1,000
Commonwealth Sustainable Cities 1,008.00 1,008 302
Professional Fees 2,300.00 2,300 5,280
Miscellaneous Expenses 617.00 617 891
Bank Service Charges 14.00 - - - 14 9
Bank Transaction Charges 345.00 - - - 345 150
**Sub total ** 53,334 - - - 53,334 48,979
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
-
-
Sub total -
Total payments
53,334
~~=~~		 -
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-		 -
-
-
53,334		 -
48,979
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end		 - 3,287
-
- - 3,287
- 1,608
-
- -
-
-
87,213
- -
87,213
88,821
83,926
-
- 83,926
87,213
~~——==™]_E==—SESSE=~~
CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 1 20/10/2025

20/10/2025

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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period| |Categories|Details|Unrestricted funds|Restricted funds|Endowment funds| |to nearest £|to nearest £|to nearest £| |B1 Cash funds|Reserve account|32,840|-|-| |Savings account|50,054|-|-| |Current account|1,000|-|-| |PayPal account|32| |Total cash funds|83,926|-|-| |SS| |(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))|OK|OK|OK| |Unrestricted funds|Restricted funds|Endowment funds| |Details|to nearest £|to nearest £|to nearest £| |B2 Other monetary assets|-|-| |-|-|-| |-|-|-| |-|-|-| |-|-|-| |-|-|-| |SS| |Details|Fund to which asset belongs|Cost (optional)|Current value|=|(optional)| |B3 Investment assets|-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |SSS| |Details|Fund to which asset belongs|Cost (optional)|Current value (optional)| |B4 Assets retained for the|-|-| |charity’s own use|-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |-|-| |SSS| |Details|Fund to which liability relates|Amount due (optional)|When due (optional)| |B5 Liabilities|N/A|0|-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |SSS| |Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees|Signature|Print Name|Date of approval| |Flora Runumi|20/10/2025| |2|20/10/2025|

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CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

20/10/2025

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