Description of organisation

Bremen's development cooperation as well as its international city relations and regional partnerships make an important contribution to the character of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen as a traditional cosmopolitan and internationally networked Hanseatic city. The International Cooperation and Development Cooperation Department of the Senate Chancellery of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is responsible for the areas of city partnerships, international networks and development cooperation. This is where the international cooperation and activities of the various departments come together and are coordinated. The department supports all actors, both within the administration and in cooperation with a broad network of non-governmental organisations, civil society initiatives, cultural institutions, schools, universities, companies and many others in achieving common goals. Important cross-cutting themes that run through many of the partnerships are joint remembrance and reconciliation work (Gdansk, Riga, Namibia), the implementation of sustainable development goals (climate partnerships), and issues of integration and inclusion. Twin cities are Gdansk, Riga, Haifa, Izmir, Durban and Dalian. We are linked with Windhoek through a city friendship, and there is also a country cooperation with Namibia.
A central element of many international partnerships is youth exchange. This is to be strengthened in all partnerships in the future, not least in order to open up new target groups and to place the partnerships on a long-term sustainable foundation. This and making the worldwide networking visible, also digitally, are among the volunteers' tasks.