From the civil society’s point of view, finding an end to poverty remains the biggest and most urgent challenge facing Commonwealth Finance Ministers today. More than a billion people are trapped in abject poverty. Hunger is a daily reality for many. 1.4 billion people do not have access to safe water. These are all fundamental humanitarian challenges, but at the same time they threaten international security, exacerbate uncontrolled migration, fragment societies and prevent sustainable development in many Commonwealth countries. This publication is in two parts. In the first section, the civil society statement highlights a number of key issues and concerns and makes recommendations to Commonwealth Finance Ministers for setting an effective national agenda for growth and livelihoods. Section two deals with the civil society discussion paper, expands on some of the key issues highlighted in the civil society statement and provides an analysis of the special theme for the 2006 Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting on the Agenda for Growth and Livelihoods.