Global Engagement, Local Benefits: A Strategic Toolkit for City, State and Local Leaders
Diplomacy is no longer practiced exclusively by national governments.
Cities, states, provinces, and regional governments have emerged as influential actors on the global stage, using their political influence, economic weight, and capacity for innovation to engage internationally and advance their communities’ interests. The question for local leaders is not whether they should engage globally—it is how to make this engagement strategic, purposeful, risk-aware, and outcome-oriented.
State and local leaders receive requests from foreign delegations, opportunities for international partnerships, and pressure to engage globally—but no clear guidance on how to do it right.
This toolkit fills this gap by documenting best practices and lessons learned from local leaders worldwide.
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Brief 2.4: How to develop and execute successful international trade missions (May 2026)
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Developed in partnership with the Truman Center and the Melbourne Centre of Cities, this toolkit provides that strategic guidance, building upon the insights and best practices from a group of innovative city, state, and regional government leaders from nine countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The result is a practical guide organized around the challenges local leaders face most often.
Each brief includes specific steps and real examples from local leaders, experts, and practitioners captured in "Insights from the Field" sections. If you’re using this Toolkit to apply an innovation locally or have questions or suggestions, please fill out this short feedback survey.
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Project summary
| Global Engagement, Local Benefits: A Strategic Toolkit for City, State and Local Leaders | |
|---|---|
| Impact Areas: | State and Local Diplomacy |
| Program Areas: | State and Local Diplomacy |
