UDE enables (mostly existing) city partnerships to strengthen their bilateral relationships, elevate them from a representative-cultural exchange to a professional level, and expand them into trilateral and multilateral city connections. Furthermore, UDE's strategic goal is to motivate and empower cities – within the framework of the 2030 Agenda – to engage in continuous global learning, global responsibility, and global commitments.
UDE designs, organizes, and promotes conferences (both in-person and virtual) for local politicians and representatives of municipal departments (especially the Office for International Affairs, the Environmental Office, and the Office for Social Affairs). This low-threshold approach is welcomed by numerous cities and seen as a way to initiate and/or sustain international cooperation.
Professional exchange trips enable cities to get to know the situation of their partner city directly, to build personal contacts and to learn about actual location factors and political contexts, which leads to greater understanding in the partnership.
As in other European countries, municipal connections are increasingly being used as a complement to national diplomacy, and knowledge from city administrations, which often need to be able to act ad hoc, is being used as a source of expertise.
Project goals
The understanding among the participating cities in Germany and in the partner countries is
They are strengthened by current political situations and solutions. Local actors are aware of their role in urban diplomacy and their potential to shape the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Furthermore, they are in their
Skills for collaborative partnerships have been strengthened. Municipalities are involved in the internationalization of their cities and in implementing the Agenda.
Strengthened by 2030.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda have direct and indirect links to local government.
administrative level. Therefore, cities worldwide, as the level closest to the citizens, play a central role in this.
Shaping the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
The 2030 Agenda is not just a set of goals, but an instrument for shaping one's own city, partnerships, and for acknowledging and perceiving global responsibility.
Further links:
City Diplomacy Lab – Connecting cities through research, training, and practice
„"Cities on both sides of the Atlantic face very similar challenges": German Association of Cities