International cooperation agreement with Bethlehem
As part of the District 11 municipal cooperation project, the signature of the international cooperation agreement between Barcelona and the Palestinian city of Bethlehem is aimed at driving institutional development, modernising the administration of municipal services to ensure their improvement and boosting technological growth that contributes to the well-being of the populations in both cities.
Signed by the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, and the Mayor of Bethlehem, Nicola Canawati, the agreement defines the collaboration between both cities in the following areas:
- Urban development and metropolitan planning.
- Management and treatment of public space in green areas.
- Smart cities, tourism and innovation.
- Cultural, sports and education initiatives linked to young people and women.
The agreement also brings the start of a bilateral project to be developed between 2026 and 2027 to launch a facility in the Palestinian city favouring the development and diversification of local economic activity. Programmes are envisaged for start-ups by women and young people, drawing on the experience of Barcelona Activa in the function and organisation of the facility, programmes, methodologies etc.
This agreement strengthens and builds on Barcelona’s collaboration with the Palestinian city, which started in 2025 with the City Council funding part of the Resilience project, promoted with the support of the MedCities network. This intensive programme consisted of 12 specialised workshops aimed at developing small companies headed by women.
District 11 as a solidarity tool
The creation of the municipal initiative District 11, Cities of Palestine scales up the cooperation and collaboration model with cities in Palestine, which Barcelona has strong ties with, and strengthens and stabilises technical and humanitarian support and economic promotion.
