ICMA maintains close ties to state-based associations of local government professionals through its regional relationship management efforts supported by a network of ICMA regional vice presidents, regional directors, and other dedicated ICMA staff who serve as liaisons. In addition, ICMA maintains formal relationships with many international and multinational local government organizations to continue to engage in global knowledge exchange. ICMA strives to closely align its work with all affiliate groups and to measure progress over time. Formal affiliation agreements provide a framework for documenting how we work together to build on key strategic initiatives. Through these agreements we can collaborate to set specific, mutually beneficial goals.
The purpose of these affiliate relationships is twofold:
- To reinforce the importance and value of the relationship between ICMA and affiliated associations, and the value of belonging to both.
- To complement the support and delivery of services to local government management professionals.
Our goal is to complement one another's efforts, grow our respective memberships, and share resources.
Areas of specific emphasis include:
- Ethics.
- Leadership and professional development.
- Advocacy for the profession.
- Membership development, engagement, and support.
- ICMA governance.
- Inclusiveness and diversity initiatives.
Leadership
ICMA and state associations collaborate on promoting and celebrating the highest ethical standards of professional behavior, and promotion and defense of the council-manager form of government. Joint professional development activities will underscore a commitment to lifelong learning. Through advances in technology, ICMA and state associations can more effectively gather and share information, so that together we become the preeminent source of information about leadership and management of local government. ICMA is committed to highlighting to all local government professionals the value of belonging to their respective state association and to ICMA.
Professional Development
ICMA also works closely with affiliate association staff to assist with conference program planning, ensure ICMA leadership representation at meetings, and support the network of staff in association management practices.
State Associations
- State-based associations of local government professionals
- Association Leadership Liaison Directory
- Establishing International Programs: A Guide for State Municipal Management Associations National Affiliates.
National and Equity Affiliates
- American Public Works Association
- CivicPRIDE
- Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE)
- Government Finance Officers Association
- International Network of Asian Public Administrators (I-NAPA)
- League of Women in Government (LWG)
- Local Government Hispanic Network (LGHN)
- National Association of County Administrators (NACA)
- National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA)
- Women Leading Government California (WLG CA).
ICMA maintains mutually beneficial relationships with local government organizations around the world in pursuit of ICMA’s goals of promoting good governance and its vision of creating thriving communities worldwide.
In maintaining these relationships, ICMA and the local government organizations seek to foster global exchange, expand organizational networks, create opportunities for peer-to-peer or city-to-city exchanges, and create globally applicable professional development opportunities and resources. For more information on these relationships, visit ICMA’s International Organizational Relationships page.
For information about global local government events, view the global events section of the ICMA events calendar.