"While our goals are global, they can most effectively be achieved through action at the local level." (Quotation by Kofi Annan)

When the Heads of Cities and Governments of 189 nations signed the United Nations Millennium Declaration in September 2000, they committed themselves to eight Millennium Development Goals by 2015. In order to achieve these ambitious goals, the United Nations also called upon cities and communities to act.

After strengthening its European and international commitment in 1997 and establishing the "Pact for Integration" in 2001, the State Capital Stuttgart subsequently set up an urban development policy network, the "Stuttgart Partnership One World", on 22 July 2005. Close on 170 players from the field of development cooperation, along with private, cultural, political, church, social, scientific, medical and commercial initiatives and institutions have since joined the network.

The goal of the Partnership is to build bridges both within the city and to other world cities and peoples. In doing so, the inhabitants of Stuttgart should learn about the varied activities of Stuttgart itself and about the other players and institutions (such as companies, research institutions, churches) in the field of development cooperation, and also familiarise themselves with the personal situations of the inhabitants of poor cities. At the same time, the partnership is seeking to improve understanding and cooperation, in line with the eighth Millennium Goal.

The "Stuttgart Partnership One World" is a unique initiative within Europe. Events are organised within the individual subsidiary network; these are either themed or aimed at specific target groups, organised by the city of Stuttgart with its partners, members get involved in exchanges, benefit from the knowledge and experience of others and identify new target groups. These events also provide a platform for members to find competent contacts from other fields or to initiate their own activities. The conferences "The Economy and Development Cooperation" in July 2006, "Sciences for One World" in July 2007 and "Stuttgart Hospitals - Active for One World" in September 2007 all demonstrate just how worthwhile such cross-sector events can be.

The "Stuttgart Partnership One World" represents a practical embodiment of the UN Millennium declaration, since access to citizens is gained through communities. The topics "Development Cooperation", "One World", and the Eighties catchphrase "Think globally - act locally" are made real to individuals through dialogues and debates, through school and city partnerships and through projects organised by church communities and research institutions. In the field of development cooperation, the Partnership offers the opportunity to pass on specialist knowledge and experience in situ, through knowledge transfer, in order to provide a more effective aid to self-help.