On 13 March, the Global Cities Hub (GCH) had the pleasure of welcoming a cohort of young civil servants from across the municipal administration of The Hague. The exchange focused on International Geneva, city diplomacy, and the importance for cities such as The Hague to engage with multilateral processes.
As a major hub for international justice and peace, The Hague shares many similarities with International Geneva. Both cities host a dense ecosystem of international organizations, diplomatic missions, and global actors working on issues ranging from peace and security to sustainable development. Beyond hosting international institutions, cities also have opportunities to engage directly in multilateral processes.
During the session, the GCH introduced participants to the concept of city diplomacy and its mutually reinforcing dimensions: twinning partnerships, participation in city networks, and engagement with multilateral processes. Particular attention was given to cities’ growing role in multilateral engagement, an area that has significantly expanded over the past decades and is expected to continue to grow. This engagement can take different forms, including:
- Participating in multilateral debates and negotiations to influence their outcomes. One example is the work undertaken by the GCH to support cities’ engagement in negotiations for a global treaty on plastic pollution through the Local and Subnational Governments Coalition to End Plastic Pollution.
- Providing local input into international frameworks, such as through Revisiones locales voluntarias submitted by cities and regions to report on progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level.
- Participating in programmes implemented by international organizations at the local level.
- Becoming donors to international organizations or contributing resources to international initiatives.
The GCH highlighted that cities’ engagement brings significant value to the multilateral system. It helps ensure that international discussions remain connected to realities on the ground, that local solutions inform global policymaking, and that international agreements are effectively implemented. Indeed, cities play a crucial role in translating global commitments into concrete action. At the same time, multilateral engagement also benefits cities themselves. Through participation in international processes, cities gain access to expertise, networks, information, and funding opportunities. They can increase their visibility both internationally and nationally, contribute to shaping policies that will ultimately be implemented locally, and exchange experiences with peers worldwide.
Despite these benefits, challenges remain. States may be cautious about expanding cities’ roles in international affairs due to considerations related to state sovereignty. In addition, multilateral engagement is often not a priority for municipal administrations, which means that cities may lack the resources and capacities required to engage consistently at the international level.
Against this backdrop, the Global Cities Hub invited the young civil servants from The Hague to reflect on how their city could further strengthen its multilateral engagement. While such engagement requires expertise, time, and resources, multilateral cooperation remains essential to address global challenges collectively. Participants were encouraged to identify priority policy areas for The Hague, explore opportunities to collaborate with other cities, engage constructively with national authorities, and seek support from relevant city networks.
The discussion concluded with a shared reflection on the importance of strengthening the links between local action and multilateral cooperation. Addressing today’s global challenges requires both effective international frameworks and strong implementation at the local level. In this regard, cities have an important role to play in ensuring that multilateral solutions remain grounded in local realities while contributing to collective global action.