Bristol has global ambitions, links and twin cities around the world, and was one of the first cities globally to assess our progress against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Open and collaborative by nature, we believe in playing our part in meeting global challenges, learning from others and sharing our experiences and knowledge. Bristol: Global City captures this outlook and details how our international strategy is being delivered.
Our International Strategy, Bristol: Global City, works out where the international priorities of the council and city partners align. This helps provide a coordinated and strategic approach to developing relationships and business links internationally.
Our strategy is not just about bringing in funding and investment, it’s also about being a leader on global values such as sustainability and inclusion; raising the voices of cities to influence the context in which they operate, and also building on the vast international links we have throughout the city.
It helps us recognise, value and share the contribution that our citizens with diverse international heritage bring to our global city, through working, living, creating and sharing together.
We collaborate with other cities and global city networks such as:
The Commonwealth Local Government Forum
ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability)
Mayors Migration Council and Climate Migration Council
The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
World Economic Forum’s Global Council on the Future of Cities
Through these networks we raise the voice of cities in international negotiations on issues such as the climate emergency and migration, access international funding, and develop new opportunities to partner with cities that face similar challenges to Bristol from across the world. We also work closely with global organisations such as:
Our International Ambassadors programme aims to strengthen existing connections and develop new opportunities to partner with cities across the globe that face similar challenges to Bristol.
The current International Ambassadors are:
Muna Abdi, Director of Primeway Care
Silas Adekunle, Co-Founder and CEO of R.I.
DJ Bunjy, Co-Founder, Laid Blak
Marti Burgess, lawyer and Chair of Black South West Network
Helen Cole – Founder, Artistic Director and Co-CEO of In Between Time
Dr Rӑzvan U Constantinescu MBE, Founder of ‘From Bristol, With Love’
Dr Mena Fombo, Founder and Director of Black Girl Convention
Ellis Genge – England international and Bristol Bears rugby player
Dr Carolyn Hassan, Founder and Director of Knowle West Media Centre
Clare Reddington, CEO of Watershed
Chris Sanigar, professional manager, trainer and boxing promotor
Professor Leon Tikly, Professor in Education at the University of Bristol
Please contact the International Affairs team at International@bristol.gov.uk for more on Global Bristol.
