International Partnerships

APWA maintains formal partnerships with the following organizations:

The International Federation of Municipal Engineering (IFME) connects municipal engineers and public works professionals, public agencies, organizations, institutions and businesses around the world in order that they share a global pool of knowledge and experience. The aim is to foster continued improvement in the quality of public works and wider community services.

The Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) is an association of more than 4,750 professional members who deliver public works and engineering services to communities in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. IPWEA provides regular continuing professional development, conferences, technical publications, and the chance to be involved in committees addressing technical issues. IPWEA is focused on asset management as a complete discipline, as well as emerging technologies, fleet management, financial management, parks and facilities and sustainability as they relate to asset management. IPWEA holds an annual International Public Works Conference (IPWC) and publishes content through InSite Community News by IPWEA.

The Federación Mexicana de Colegios de Ingenieros Civiles A.C. (FEMCIC) is a society of associations of civil engineers in Mexico. FEMCIC’s 62 local chapters represent an average of 60,000 professionals in 29 of the 32 states that make up the country of Mexico. In its organizational structure FEMCIC has 9 vice presidencies geographically distributed in Mexico and 1 international vice presidency. FEMCIC promotes scientific and technological development and knowledge exchange in areas including professional certification, roads infrastructure, and energy infrastructure.

The Royal Association Stadswerk The Netherlands (Stadswerk) is an association for municipalities, companies as well as driven professionals who are actively involved in dealing with issues and practical solutions in respect to our direct physical environment. The network has four and a half thousand driven and specialized professionals, working for municipalities, engineering companies and universities as well. Stadswerk offers a forum in which knowledge and experience can be shared and exchanged. Stadswerk holds a Public Space Trade Fair, Future Green City Idea Theatre, and publishes content through Stadswerk Magazine.

ICLEI - Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (ICLEI-MECS) is a subdivision of ICLEI, a global network that works with more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. ICLEI’s five pathways towards low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development are designed to create systemic change. The Secretariat for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean works with more than 600 local governments, promoting initiatives to efficiently and effectively implement sustainable urban development. ICLEI-MECS holds an International Public Works Conference, as well as a Regional Membership Conference, each year, and publishes content through the ICLEI-MECS magazine Acción Local Sustentable.

The Finnish Association of Municipal Engineering (FAME) is an association for engineers, architects, and other municipal engineering professionals, representing more than 700 municipal technology professionals and twenty community members. Membership consists of public and private sector directors, managers and experts in all areas of public works. FAME has committees for City Planning, Land Surveying, Asset Management, Certification, Youths and retired experts, as well as an active International Committee, populated by member volunteers. FAME has developed a municipal technology certification program for public works professional supervisors and managers. FAME has more than 20 publications, all in Finnish, and arranges an annual Public Works Conference (300+ participants) and a biannual Public Works Expo (9000+ visitors). FAME’s member magazine Kuntatekniikka (in Finnish) appears four time per year.

The Association of Technical Directors in Danish Local Authorities (KTC) represents directors and members at all management levels in all technical departments from all 98 municipalities in Denmark, as well as managers of companies fully owned by the Danish municipal authorities (i.e. wastewater companies and other suppliers of public services). KTC focuses on construction, spatial planning, housing, nature, water, environment, roads, traffic and supply. KTC holds an annual conference, ÅRSMØDE, as well as a yearly conference about Nature and the Environment, Natur & Miljø, and publishes content through the KTC magazine Teknik & Miljø.

The Norwegian Association of Municipal Engineers (NKF) is a municipal engineering association, founded in 1907, with over 400 business members, representing 95% of Norwegian municipalities. Over 850 municipal units are active in the association's network. The municipal engineering professional field includes: administration and management, waste and recycling, buildings and properties, fire, safety and emergency preparedness, building permit issuance, physical planning, the outdoor environment, park and sports facilities, mapping and geodata, water and wastewater, and roads and transport. NKF has established the following professional forums, which organize conferences and meetings: building permit and control; physical planning; public buildings and properties; and roads and transport. NKF hosts a national convention every two years, as well as the fair Kommunalteknikkmessa, and publishes the magazine Kommunalteknikk.

The Swedish Public Works Association (SPWA) was founded in 1902 to promote development, training, cooperation and information in most aspects of public works. Membership includes personnel from local, county, state/province, and federal agencies as well as representatives from the private sector. SPWA is organized in seven committees representing the following areas of public works: Management, Surveying, Streets, Land Management & Development, Transportation, Sustainable Urban Planning, and International. SPWA holds an annual conference and publishes content through the SPWA magazine Stadsbyggnad.

The Icelandic Federation of Municipal Engineering (SATS) is an association of public works professionals based in Iceland which seeks to inform, connect, represent and lead public works professionals in Iceland.

The Czech Republic Association of Public Benefit Services (ZVPS) is an association representing 115 public works agencies providing service in the Czech Republic dedicated to improving the quality of life and public infrastructure, equipment and services through their employees and public works professionals. It has five sections: economic law; communications, cleaning, street lighting; waste management; public greenery, maintenance of sports grounds; and foreign relations.

The Slovak Public Works Association (ZOVP) is an association representing 70 public works agencies operating in approximately 1,200 municipalities in the Slovak Republic dedicated to improving quality of life and public infrastructure, equipment and services through their employees and public works professionals. It has six sections: transportation and local roads, waste management, landscaping and cemeteries, public lighting, economics and legislature, and international affairs.

APWA maintains collaborative partnerships with the following organizations:

Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is a nonprofit humanitarian organization established to support community-driven development programs worldwide through partnerships that design and implement sustainable engineering projects while creating transformative experiences and responsible leaders. EWB-USA’s vision is a world in which the communities they serve have the capacity to sustainably meet their basic human needs. Today, more than two billion people lack access to the most basic things—clean drinking water, adequate sanitation, reliable passage to local markets and more.