The Commonwealth has a special interest in small states because over half of its members are in this category. Commonwealth work has naturally focused on Commonwealth countries, but it has also contributed to wider agendas which include those of UNESCO as a universal organisation with 193 member states. Some of the work of the Commonwealth Secretariat has therefore been carried out in partnership with UNESCO, and with its International Institute for Educational Planning. The ministers of education who participate or are represented in the CCEM also participate or are represented in wider global forums. In addition, many small states, particularly in the Caribbean and south Pacific, operate effectively together in regional bodies.