citynetwork

Citynetwork is a term used to describe formal or informal associations of urban governments that cooperate across city boundaries to address common challenges and opportunities. City networks facilitate knowledge transfer, joint policy development, and coordinated action in areas such as climate change, mobility, housing, infrastructure, and economic development. They can be international, regional, or thematic, and may include large metropolises as well as smaller cities.

Most city networks operate through a secretariat, annual conferences, working groups, and online platforms. Members typically pay dues or contribute to project funding; leadership is usually elected, with a steering committee or board.

Exchanges of best practices, joint procurement, shared open data platforms, indicators and benchmarking, pilot projects, and capacity-building are common activities. Benefits include accelerated policy diffusion, access to funding, and improved resilience, while risks include governance complexity, unequal influence among members, and dependence on external funding.

Notable city networks include global organizations such as the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG); European networks like Eurocities; and regional networks such as CityNet in Asia-Pacific. The city-network approach is central to multilevel governance and urban diplomacy, enabling cities to act collectively beyond their borders.