In their publication, Max Bouchet, research analyst at the Brookings Institution and GDL member, and his co-author Anthony Pipa discuss the role of city-to-city cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These city networks are crucial for international cooperation and offer a broad stream of benefits, ranging from economic and material aspects to knowledge exchange and advocacy. During the pandemic, for instance, partner cities have helped each other out with masks for the local population where they were lacking.

The article further argues that city-to-city cooperation will also facilitate more effective implementation of new programmes and that partner cities will continue to expand the help they provide to one another, such as sharing the technical expertise that they may have acquired in a different field.

In the future, in a post-COVID world, these partnerships are likely to continue to develop, especially since they will result in more diversity.

Take a closer look at Max’s thoughts on how city-to-city diplomacy will develop and why it is important in the discussion paper he has written for the Brookings Institution.

About the author:

Max Bouchet is a research analyst conducting research on building stronger and more inclusive city-region economies and is eager to support local leaders implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Published on September 03, 2020.

Photo credit: Max Bouchet