Metropolis offers many opportunities for international cooperation. It provides a framework for the exchange of technical skills and for the development of relationships between member major cities and their partners. Metropolis carries out many different activities. These include:

Metropolis Initiatives – Take the Initiative!

Metropolis wishes to build a network of Initiatives among metropolitan governments and their collaborating partners to promote projects in partnership for urban sustainability, understood simultaneously in its environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects.

The Metropolis Initiatives constitute the main core of the new Action Plan to promote projects and concrete services for the cities in conjunction with institutions and companies. With the Initiatives, Metropolis seeks to consolidate network-based management of its activities, more targeted at projects and oriented towards results and more open to partnerships and external funding.

Metropolis Initiatives webpage

Triennial congresses

Every three years, Metropolis holds a major international congress, which sets the pace for the Association. Contributing to deepening the understanding of metropolitan issues and fostering cooperation between its members, the congresses encourage dialogue on numerous aspects of urban development, including economic, social and spatial issues. Between each congress, members of Metropolis work in groups with other member cities on thematic research projects. Conclusions from the work of the commissions are presented at the congresses in workshops that are open to the public. Congresses are attended by members of Metropolis and any members of the public who have an interest in urban planning and development issues.

To date, the following Metropolis congresses have been held.

• Metropolis 2014 to be held in Hyderabad
• Metropolis 2011 "Cities in Transition", held in Porto Alegre
• Metropolis 2008 "Connecting Cities", held in Sydney.
• Metropolis 2005 "Tradition and transformation: the future of the city", held in Berlin.
• Metropolis 2002, "Metropolitan Governance in the New Millennium", held in Seoul.
• Metropolis '99, "A network of cities for world citizens", held in Barcelona.
• Metropolis '96, "Metropolis for the people, seeking a solidarity among world citizens", held in Tokyo.
• Metropolis '93, "The citizen and sustainable development", held in Montreal.
• Metropolis '90, "Metropolises in ascendancy", held in Melbourne.
• Metropolis '87, "A better life for all metropolises", held in Mexico City.
• Metropolis '84, "What kind of development for the major metropolitan regions at the dawn of the 3rd millennium?", held in Paris.

International Representation

Metropolis manages the metropolitan section of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Metropolis also represents metropolitan interests before international organizations (particularly United Nations organizations through ECOSOC, UN-Habitat, and UNACLA, and other institutions such as Cities Alliance, the World Bank, the US Conference of Mayors, ICLEI, etc.) and takes part in international activities and meetings in collaboration with UCLG.

Technical Assistance

Considering that no metropolis is self-sufficient, but that each has specific experience and expertise, the members of Metropolis deem it essential that the Association ensures closer, more concrete and durable cooperation between the metropolises of the world.

The Technical Assistance Scheme came into operation in 1993 and was set up to encourage the exchange of experience and specialised know-how between Metropolis members. The technical and financial assistance has also the support of Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV). Metropolis, as a founding member of the FMDV will facilitate its members’ access to the services offered by the fund.

Training

Since 1997, Metropolis has provided training and seminars through the Metropolis Training Institute. Located in Montreal, the Institute organises high-level training sessions for elected officials and urban administrators. Training is also structured and carried out in close connection with the Metropolis Initiatives to guarantee knowledge transfers between its members and partners.

Board of Directors meetings

Metropolis is governed by a Board of Directors which meet once per year. Metropolis Structure

The Board of Directors meetings also constitute an opportunity for major cities to exchange knowledge and experiences:

• 2012 Board of Directors meeting and Innovation Awards in Guangzhou
• 2013 Board of Directors meeting in Johannesburg
• 11th World Congress 2014 and 4th Metropolis Awards in Hyderabad

Forums of Metropolitan Mayors

Metropolis will carry out a profound political reflection on city development and the evolution needed, organizing Forums of Metropolitan Mayors to coincide with its statutory meetings, as well as events organized by its partners.

Metropolis International Women Network

Created in 2005, one of the core goals of this international space for exchanges and cooperation between women is to improve women’s representation in local and metropolitan governments in decision-making processes.

In 2011, Metropolis joins the UCLG Standing Committee on Gender Equality to create the Metropolis-UCLG International Women’s Network, which will be presented at the next International Women forum to be held in Paris in 2013.

Metropolis International Women Network webpage

Metropolis Awards

The Metropolis Awards, presented every three years, are a recognition of the projects submitted by the Association’s member cities which have successfully and with measurable results delivered on a project or experience that warrants international recognition because of its contribution to improving the citizens’ quality of life.

Metropolis Awards webpage

Publications and communications

Metropolis produces a range of publications and information available to members and the public. This includes:

• Regular newsletters
• Studies and reports on metropolitan regions and urban population
• Publications on issues related to urban development
• Facebook and Twitter online based communities
• Summary of conferences, seminars and Congresses
• Syntheses of works from the standing commissions.

In addition, Metropolis undertakes a series of actions intended to promote internal communication among its members and increase the presence of the Association in the field of urban development and international relations.