Convening
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. Read the 2026 Toolkit Read the 2025 Toolkit NEW BRIEF - MAY 2026 Brief 2.4: How to develop and execute successful international trade missions (May 2026) Fill out the form below to receive free access to the toolkit.
Form not working? Visit this link Brief 4.3: Leveraging sports, culture, and soft power Meridian's Sports Subnational Toolkit will be published in Fall 2026. 2025 Subnational Diplomacy Toolkit First Edition Launched in Partnership with . Developed in partnership with the Truman Center and the Melbourne Centre of Cities , t his 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. About this toolkit and acknowledgements Read the Introduction About this toolkit and acknowledgements Read the Introduction Section 1: Strategies for informed and effective global engagement Brief 1.1. Creating a global roadmap that benefits constituents (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 1.2. Best practices for purposeful international partnerships (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 1.3 Proving Value: How to measure and communicate the local impact of global engagement (July 2025) Read the Brief Section 1: Strategies for informed and effective global engagement Brief 1.1.
Creating a global roadmap that benefits constituents (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 1.2. Best practices for purposeful international partnerships (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 1.3 Proving Value: How to measure and communicate the local impact of global engagement (July 2025) Read the Brief Section 2: Making communities more prosperous through innovation, job creation, and economic growth Brief 2.1. Bringing the benefits of competition, trade, and foreign investment to communities (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 2.2 Organizing regionally across the public and private sectors for economic competitiveness (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 2.3 Transforming environmental challenges into resilience, energy security, and job creation (July 2025) Read the Brief Section 2: Making communities more prosperous through innovation, job creation, and economic growth Brief 2.1.
Bringing the benefits of competition, trade, and foreign investment to communities (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 2.2 Organizing regionally across the public and private sectors for economic competitiveness (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 2.3 Transforming environmental challenges into resilience, energy security, and job creation (July 2025) Read the Brief Section 3: Making communities safer from foreign malign influence and interference Brief 3.1 Guidelines for informed engagement with foreign governments (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 3.2 Countering rumors and propaganda at the local level (July 2025) Read the Brief Section 3: Making communities safer from foreign malign influence and interference Brief 3.1 Guidelines for informed engagement with foreign governments (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 3.2 Countering rumors and propaganda at the local level (July 2025) Read the Brief Section 4: Making communities stronger and more resilient through global ties Brief 4.1 Leveraging partnerships with diasporas and multiethnic communities for global ties and resilience (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 4.2 Tomorrow's leaders: Fostering globally engaged citizens through youth exchanges (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 4.3 Leveraging sports, culture, and soft power To be published in Fall 2025 Section 4: Making communities stronger and more resilient through global ties Brief 4.1 Leveraging partnerships with diasporas and multiethnic communities for global ties and resilience (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 4.2 Tomorrow's leaders: Fostering globally engaged citizens through youth exchanges (July 2025) Read the Brief Brief 4.3 Leveraging sports, culture, and soft power To be published in Fall 2025 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 . Download the Full Report Built With the Participation and Insights From: 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 .