The Commonwealth Secretariat has produced an updated version of its popular country portfolio series which examines the structure and functions of the public services of a number of Commonwealth countries. As the range of structural options and accountability relationships used within public sectors all over the world increase, so too, is there a need for a clearer understanding of the managerial alternatives and the actual and potential capacities of the core civil service. This "Public Service Country Profile Series" is an important contribution to that understanding and is of real benefit to the actual managers of public service who are looking to understand and learn from other jurisdictions.