Our Programs

Areas of Focus

Business and Trade

International exchanges boost local industry and development, build avenues for trade and company expansion, and develop personal relationships that open doors for private sector investment. Economic development events and activities can include: visitors, local vendors at cultural events, on-going operations and maintenance of cultural attractions, international students, and company expansions.

Youth and Education

To support local youth initiatives, Sister Cities International dedicates itself to promoting opportunities for youth exchanges, creating lasting friendships and cultural awareness from a young age. Sister Cities International provides project ideas, exchange programs, youth conferences, and mentoring opportunities to engage local young people in its dynamic international network.

Community Development

Sister city programs often raise funds or supplies for natural disasters or other emergencies in their sister cities. Other development projects renovate clinics, build wells, and help train professionals. Numerous programs also support schools abroad through materials, construction, and partnerships with U.S. schools.

Program Elements

Exchange Funding

A new focus of Sister Cities International programs is direct exchange funding for our members. Four of our ongoing programs, the African Urban Poverty Alleviation Program (AUPAP), the Young Ambassadors Program: Tri-lateral North America, the Leading Asia Program and the Sino-African Initiative all feature exchange funding components that allow our members to engage directly with their sister city in order to plan or implement new programming and projects focused on economic development and sustainability. Sister Cities International continues to fund citizen exchanges, with a particular focus on Asia in the coming years.

Best Practice Toolkits and Publications

Sister Cities International provides best practice toolkits for exchanges, fundraising, advocacy and other topics relevant to sister city development. In line with our new focus on promoting economic development through the sister city model, we are in the process of developing enhanced best practice toolkits for business exchange and creative economies by leveraging the support of partner organizations and government agencies including the Small business Administration, the US Chamber of Commerce and the International Trade Administration.

Conferences and Webinars

Our annual and regional conferences provide foundation-building activities for younger programs while retaining substantive sessions for those more mature programs. In addition, Sister Cities International leverages the support of institutional partners such as the Department of Energy, Global Giving and Child Leadership Project, to host monthly webinars for members to help develop skills and knowledge in areas ranging from advocacy, communications, online fundraising and organizing trade delegations.