Founded in 2009, the Ramphal Institute is a not-for-profit organisation working on issues of special concern to the Commonwealth and its 54 member in the areas of social and economic policy, governance and the environment. The Institute leverages the special ties of the Commonwealth to advance and share knowledge in these fields for the benefit of both policy makers and the public.

In 2012, the Institute was accredited to the Commonwealth by the Commonwealth Secretariat.