About us
We are the global network of major cities and metropolitan areas.
We serve as the hub and platform for metropolises to connect, share experiences, and mobilize on a wide range of local and global issues, in addition to being the focal point of worldwide experience and expertise on metropolitan governance.
To connect political leaders, policy makers and practitioners worldwide in order to advocate metropolitan interests and improve the performance of metropolises in addressing local and global challenges.
Engaged metropolitan governance is critical to facing the immensity of contemporary urban challenges. Therefore, Metropolis mission will be achieved by a set of means to co-create caring sustainable cities characterized by engaged metropolitan governance:
- a. Conducting urban diplomacy based on agreed principles
- b. Developing urban capacities based on a knowledge platform of tools and resources
Metropolis operates, as well, as the metropolitan section of the World Organisation of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), since its constitution, in 2004.
Metropolises for and by their citizens where participatory and effective metropolitan governance fosters economic development, sustainability, social cohesion, gender equality and quality of life.
In line with the association’s mission and vision, as well as the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, Metropolis works to:
- a. Advance metropolitan interests
- b. Improve the performance of metropolises.
The Board of Directors is formed by at least 15 members representing metropolises from different continents. They are elected by the General Assembly and may be re-elected. The Metropolis Women President is an ex officio member of the Board of Directors.
The President of the Board of Directors represents the association in all civil acts and is invested with all the necessary powers to this end.
- Head of the Division for International Relations
- Deputy Chief of Protocol of the Federal State of Berlin
- The Governing Mayor of Berlin Senate Chancellery
- Director of the International Relations and Cooperation Department
- Advisor in the General Coordination of International Affairs in the Government of Mexico City
our story
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
1984
1985
April
1st METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS. METROPOLIS CONSTITUENT CONGRESS
MONTREAL
1st METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS. METROPOLIS CONSTITUENT CONGRESS (14 members)
- Participants: Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Colombo, London, Tokyo, New York, Los Ángeles, Île-de-France, Montréal, Metropolitan Corporation of Barcelona, Mexico (state), Cairo, Buenos Aires, Torino
- Michel Giraud, Paris, Île-de-France is elected first president
- Institution of Metropolis Commissions (until 2011)
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
January
4TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS “Citizens and Sustainable Development”
MONTREAL
4TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS “Citizens and Sustainable Development”
- Metropolis creates its Technical Assistance Scheme
1994
1995
1996
June
Metropolis participates to the UNHABITAT II "CITY SUMMIT" and proposes the establishment of the World Association of Cities and Local Authorities Coordination (WACLAC)
PARIS
Metropolis participates to the UNHABITAT II "CITY SUMMIT" and proposes the establishment of the World Association of Cities and Local Authorities Coordination (WACLAC)
1997
1998
JOAN CLOS (BARCELONA) SUCCEEDS MICHEL GIRAUD (ÎLE-DE-FRANCE) AS PRESIDENT
1999
2000
2001
2002
May
7TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS “Metropolitan Governance in the New Millennium”
SEOUL
- 1ST METROPOLIS AWARDS “Seeking better quality of life for the world’s metropolises”
-
SEOUL DECLARATION ON METROPOLITAN GOVERNANCE
-
APPROVAL OF THE ACTION PLAN 2002-2005
2003
September
METROPOLIS ANNUAL MEETING
ISTANBUL
METROPOLIS ANNUAL MEETING
2004
January
UCLG CREATION
ILE-DE-FRANCE
UCLG CREATION
2005
May
8TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS “Tradition and Transformation. The Future of the City”
BERLIN
-
2ND METROPOLIS AWARDS
-
APPROVAL OF THE ACTION PLAN 2005-2008
-
METROPOLIS WOMEN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK CREATION
-
Metropolis Women’s congress
-
Youth Congress “My City - Visions 2005 +”
2006
METROPOLIS EXTRAORDINARY ANNUAL MEETING
ILE-DE-FRANCE
- JEAN-PAUL HUCHON (ÎLE-DE-FRANCE) SUCCEEDS JOAN CLOS (BARCELONA) AS PRESIDENT
2007
December
1ST METROPOLIS WOMEN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FORUM “Dynamic Cities Need Women”
BRUSSELS
1ST METROPOLIS WOMEN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FORUM “Dynamic Cities Need Women”
2008
October
9TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS “Connecting Cities”
SYDNEY
9TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS “Connecting Cities”
-
1ST REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER IN MASHHAD
-
3RD METROPOLIS AWARDS
-
APPROVAL OF THE ACTION PLAN 2009-2011
2009
October
2ND METROPOLIS WOMEN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FORUM “Dynamic Cities Need Women: Visions and Challenges for a Women-Friendly City”
SEOUL
2ND METROPOLIS WOMEN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FORUM “Dynamic Cities Need Women: Visions and Challenges for a Women-Friendly City”
2010
2011
November
10TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS “Cities in Transition”
PORTO ALEGRE
-
APPROVAL OF THE ACTION PLAN 2012-2014
-
APPROVAL OF METROPOLIS INITIATIVES
-
ALAIN LE SAUX SUCCEEDS JOSEP ROIG AS METROPOLIS SECRETARY GENERAL
-
4TH METROPOLIS AWARDS
2012
LAUNCH OF THE URBAN INNOVATION PROGRAM
LAUNCH OF THE URBAN INNOVATION PROGRAM
1ST GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR URBAN INNOVATION
2013
March
METROPOLIS INTERNATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE (MITI) OPENING
SEOUL
- From MII to MITI - Headquarters in Seoul
- Regional centers in: Cairo, Mashhad, Mexico City, Paris and Île-de-France
September
3RD METROPOLIS WOMEN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FORUM “Dynamic Cities Need Women: Women and Armed Conflict”
ABIDJAN
3RD METROPOLIS WOMEN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FORUM “Dynamic Cities Need Women: Women and Armed Conflict”
2014
October
11TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS “Cities for All”
HYDERABAD
-
APPROVAL OF THE METROPOLIS ACTION PLAN 2015-2017 BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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APPROVAL OF THE NEW STATUTES AND THE RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE ASSOCIATION
-
OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF VOICE OF THE MAYORS
-
OFFICIAL LAUNCH METROPOLIS YOUTH
-
OFFICIAL POLICY TRANSFER PLATFORM (PTP) LAUNCH
-
METROPOLIS WOMEN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK’s president becomes a member of the BOARD OF DIRECTORS
-
5TH METROPOLIS AWARDS “Seeking Better Quality of Life for the World’s Metropolises”
2015
December
DENIS CODERRE SUCCEEDS JEAN-PAUL HUCHON (ÎLE-DE-FRANCE) AS PRESIDENT
DENIS CODERRE (MONTRÉAL) SUCCEEDS JEAN-PAUL HUCHON (ÎLE-DE-FRANCE) AS PRESIDENT
May
METROPOLIS ANNUAL MEETING “LIVE THE CITY”
BUENOS AIRES
METROPOLIS ANNUAL MEETING “LIVE THE CITY”
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APPROVAL OF ACTION PLAN REVISION to incorporate the Gender Mainstreaming Perspective for the first time
-
VOICE OF THE MAYORS DEBATE
October
HABITAT III: THEMATIC MEETING ON METROPOLITAN AREAS
MONTREAL
HABITAT III: THEMATIC MEETING ON METROPOLITAN AREAS
2016
May
PREPCITY#3 “Cities as Actors” – PRINCIPLES FOR BETTER CITIES
BERLIN
PREPCITY#3 “Cities as Actors” – PRINCIPLES FOR BETTER CITIES
November
METROPOLIS OBSERVATORY PROJECT LAUNCH
BARCELONA AND WORLDWIDE
METROPOLIS OBSERVATORY PROJECT LAUNCH
October
METROPOLIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
BOGOTA
METROPOLIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING (in the framework of the 5TH UCLG World Congress)
2017
June
12TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS “Global Challenges: Major Cities in Action”
MONTREAL
12TH METROPOLIS WORLD CONGRESS “Global Challenges: Major Cities in Action”
- FROM INITIATIVES TO PILOT PROJECTS (effective in 2018)
- DENNIS CODERRE PRESIDENCY IS RENEWED
- OCTAVI DE LA VARGA SUCCEEDS FELIP ROCA AS SECRETARY GENERAL
- MONTREAL DECLARATION “CITIES IN THE VANGUARD TO ADDRESS LOCAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES AND IMPLEMENT THE PARIS AGREEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE”
2018
August
METROPOLIS ANNUAL MEETING “Inclusive Metropolitan Cities and City-Regions”
GAUTENG
METROPOLIS ANNUAL MEETING “Inclusive Metropolitan Cities and City-Regions”
- LAUNCH OF THE GAUTENG DECLARATION “INCLUSIVE METROPOLITAN CITIES AND CITY-REGIONS”
- POLICY DEBATE - METROPOLIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS: MICHAEL MüLLER (BERLIN) IS CONFIRMED PRESIDENT OF METROPOLIS
December
4TH GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR URBAN INNOVATION
GUANGZHOU
4TH GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR URBAN INNOVATION
January
MICHAEL MüLLER (BERLIN) ASSUMES THE PRESIDENCY OF METROPOLIS ON AN INTERIM BASIS
MICHAEL MüLLER (BERLIN) ASSUMES THE PRESIDENCY OF METROPOLIS ON AN INTERIM BASIS
October
THE WORLD METROPOLITAN DAY IS CELEBRATED FOR THE 1ST TIME
WORLDWIDE
THE WORLD METROPOLITAN DAY IS CELEBRATED FOR THE 1ST TIME
2019
March
FROM POLICY TRANSFER PLATFORM (PTP) TO URBAN SUSTAINABLE EXCHANGE (USE) PLATFORM
BERLIN AND WORLDWIDE
FROM POLICY TRANSFER PLATFORM (PTP) TO URBAN SUSTAINABLE EXCHANGE (USE) PLATFORM
May
LAUNCH OF THE DECENTRALIZED COOPERATION PROGRAM (EU DG DEVCO FUNDED)
LAUNCH OF THE DECENTRALIZED COOPERATION PROGRAM (EU DG DEVCO FUNDED)
2020
March
LAUNCH OF THE CITIES FOR GLOBAL HEALTH PLATFORM
LAUNCH OF THE CITIES FOR GLOBAL HEALTH PLATFORM
Social responsibility
Since 2017. Define and ensure that the organization and its members behave in a professional and ethical manner that respects and complies with current national and international law.
https://www.metropolis.org/about-us#accountability
promotion of teleworking for the entire staff
flexible hours that allow balance of work-life balance
Meet needs and comfort in teleworking
Ad hoc training capsules
specific training to develop news competences
specific training for prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing