International partnerships have a key role to play in the modern local government landscape. Globalisation and modern communications mean that we live in a world that is more connected and interdependent than ever before. Many of the issues that councils confront at a local level are international in nature.

It is a world where, for example, crime, social and religious tensions in other parts of the world may have impacts on local communities in the UK, where matters such as child protection, trading standards and regulation of waste disposal are international in scope, where business and career success increasingly rely on having a global perspective and local education and economic development strategies need to respond accordingly.

Whether they spring directly from councils or are initiated in other ways, international development partnerships bring a range of benefits:

Local authority benefits

Improving service delivery and problem solving: Sharing information and experience with overseas partners can help local authorities improve the quality and cost effectiveness of their own services. Exchanges between council officers are often a cheap and effective way of delivering technical assistance and can be more sustainable than one-off projects. They can allow local authorities to compare approaches to solving particular problems, and let members of staff learn from each other over a period of time.

Increasing global awareness: Globalisation means that local authorities are increasingly required to work to European and international standards and operate in world markets.

Accessing international funding sources: European Union and funding programmes from multilateral agencies usually require local authorities to work with partners from other countries. Established links, including twinning arrangements, provide an excellent source of potential partners, enabling them to unlock funding for technical projects.

Staff development and training: Through the challenges associated with resolving technical issues in a new environment, overseas partnerships and twinning links can provide innovative training opportunities for all levels of staff and in a number of subject areas, ranging from management development to practical skills. A better understanding of another culture can also help local authority officers and other professionals to work more effectively within their own community.

Member development and training: Elected members can also benefit from the personal development opportunities available as a result of overseas partnerships. Councillors can use an international partnership to enhance their own skills by exchanging experience with their counterparts.

People to people benefits

Promoting tolerance and increasing understanding: Local authority partnerships put people from different countries and cultures together. This increases their understanding of the world and can broaden their horizons and help combat insularity. Importantly, it can promote tolerance and respect for others, thereby combating racism and xenophobia.

Promoting stronger community partnerships: As activities often involve a wide cross section of the community, international partnerships can also help increase understanding between different communities at home, as well as between the international partners. Councils can use partnership activity to motivate key sections of the community, such as ethnic minorities, young people and disadvantaged groups, who may not always be involved in local authority activities or have contact abroad. Local authorities can stimulate local interest and make links with overseas counterparts possible. Looking at other communities often encourages people to look more closely at their own environment and social structures. This, in turn, can boost civic pride, self esteem and confidence.

Enhancing youth activities: Overseas partnerships can give young people their first experience of life abroad. Youth exchanges or work experience can not only prove enjoyable but can also increase practical skills and enable young people to compete more successfully in the global workplace. Contact with foreign counterparts can provide an environment in which young people can explore social and political issues, deepening their awareness and increasing their self confidence.

General benefits

Promoting community well being: Bringing together counterpart organisations, experts and interest groups in health and social welfare can lead to improvements in social policy and community services and facilities. Sharing expertise and experience on issues such as unemployment and drug and alcohol dependency, and comparing facilities for the young and elderly, can bring about changes at a local level that can make a real difference to people's lives.

Public awareness and learning: Taking part in international partnerships can raise public consciousness and encourage debate on major global issues, such as the environment, racism or poverty. Partnerships can also be used as a learning tool for all age groups in understanding the social, political, environmental and economic issues that face other parts of the world.

Education: International partnerships can enhance formal and informal education and lifelong learning for all members of the community. By providing a realistic context for learning, local authority links bring text books to life and serve as a resource for many subjects. Activities can be developed to relate directly to the national curriculum or an exam syllabus to improve educational achievement. Simply taking part in an overseas link can also boost key skills such as communication and organisation.

Economic and business benefits: International partnerships allow small and large organisations, in both the public and private sectors, to explore potential economic benefits, through trade or the exchange of technical knowledge to improve business efficiency and service delivery. Tourism is recognised as a key component of the economy of many areas, and overseas partnerships can help promote an area.

Making a global difference: UK local government has a great deal of expertise that can help meet international agreed targets, such as the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, which set out to improve the lives of people in the developing world. Local authority services, such as public health and education, for instance, can be instrumental in alleviating poverty, gender inequality and environmental problems, although councils in developing countries may not always have the capacity to deal with them.