This handbook is the first attempt to identify the full extent of unofficial, or non-governmental, activity in the Commonwealth and its main areas of interest and operation. In doing so it fulfils a need expressed by Commonwealth non-governmental organisations at a conference organised by Dalhousie University in October 1976. It replaces the booklet Commonwealth Organisations and Sources of Information, published in 1974 by the Commonwealth Secretariat, which proved to be a most useful reference document.