During the last twenty years, Nablus Municipality was able to establish a strong and wide network of international relations with a considerable number of European cities and international institutions. The Municipality has adopted a number of policies and drew strategies to achieve this goal through signing memorandums of understanding and protocol agreements which aim at marketing the city of Nablus and its cause at the international level on one hand, and launch the international advocacy campaigns on the other hand. Further, the Municipality was able to launch the necessary financial support for its vital projects whether pertaining to infrastructure projects or capacity building programs and cultural and information exchange programs to all segments of Nablus society including women, youth and children.

In order to achieve this mission at a high level of performance, the municipality intended to promote the role of the International and Public Relations Department which represents as a focal point between the municipality and twinned cities and international organizations. The Department has been initiated in 1994 and due to the expansion of its scope of work, the department has been structured to encompass three units: International and Public Relations Unit, International Relations Unit, Media and Publications Unit, in addition to the implementation of women, youth and children projects bestowed on this department.

Duties and responsibilities of the International and Public Relations Department include coordination and logistic arrangements for local and international activities, receiving official delegations, networking with local and international institutions. The Department also works on issuing publications and periodical journals and brochures on news and municipality achievements with an aim of promoting transparency versus its local citizens and international donors and stakeholders, while maintaining and updating its information on the official website.

Furthermore, the International and Public Relations Department is responsible for implementing joint projects with the donor community and European institutions. This duty includes preparing projects’ proposal pertaining to health, social and humanitarian issues as well as cultural exchange programs with different nations worldwide. The Department coordinates internally with other departments and sections delegating staff members to participate in the international conferences and activities.