JCI Belgium

Twinning

JCI twinning: building meaningful international partnerships

What is JCI twinning?

JCI Twinning is a voluntary partnership programme that formally connects JCI national or local organisations from different countries or regions. The programme enables cultural exchange, collaborative projects, and shared access to JCI’s global network of young professionals aged 18–40 across 100+ countries.

A JCI twinning agreement is not symbolic. It is a structured, registered partnership backed by a joint Plan of Action with measurable goals – and it must be renewed annually through active collaboration.

In short: JCI Twinning turns international relationships into formal, accountable, and actionable partnerships.

Why twinnings matters for JCI (local) organisations

Organisations that actively maintain their twinning relationships report 3 consistent outcomes:

Stronger member retention: international programs increase perceived value of JCI membership
Broader project reach: joint initiatives access combined budgets, expertise, and networks
Greater JCI network visibility: active twin partners rank more prominently within JCI’s global structure

Multi-twinning arrangements: where three or more organisations from neighbouring countries form a shared regional network – amplify these effects further. The Balkan multi-twinning initiative, cited by JCI as a model case, demonstrated that collective regional agreements deliver resources and visibility that bilateral agreements alone cannot achieve.

Four types of twinning agreements

JCI recognises four official types of twinning agreements. The right format depends on your organisation’s scale and objectives.

Type	Format	Best for
NO–NO	National organisation with national organisation	Deep, long-term bilateral cooperation at national level (e.g. JCI USA × JCI Japan)
ZO–ZO	Zone or region across different national organisations	Regional initiatives leveraging zone-specific strengths within a multinational framework
LO–LO (across NOs)	Local chapter with local chapter from a different country	Most common format — bilateral city-level exchange (e.g. JCI Brussels × JCI Paris)
LO–LO (within NO)	Local chapter with local chapter in the same country	Domestic collaboration; ideal starting point for chapters new to twinning

For JCI Belgium local chapters, LO–LO across NOs is the most accessible entry point for European partnerships. LO–LO within NO allows Belgian chapters to formally collaborate with each other as a structured first step

How to find a twinning partner

International JCI events

Three proven channels exist for initiating a twinning relationship:

At international JCI events: the JCI European Conference and JCI World Congress are the primary venues for forging new partnerships. Attending with twinning as an explicit goal – identifying target organisations in advance and scheduling bilateral meetings – produces the highest conversion rate from introduction to signed agreement.
Through direct outreach: you do not need to wait for an event. Contact organisations in cities or countries that share your chapter’s priorities and assess whether goals and capacity are complementary. The most durable partnerships begin with a candid conversation about what both organisations want to achieve – before any ceremony is planned.
Through regional and thematic networks: for JCI Belgium chapters, European LO–LO partnerships offer natural geographic and cultural fit. Shared proximity, manageable travel distances, and overlapping organisational cultures make these partnerships accessible even for chapters with limited international budgets.

How to register a JCI Twinning agreement: 5 steps

Draft a joint Plan of Action with your partner organisation. Define goals aligned with JCI’s four Areas of Opportunity, break them into measurable milestones, assign responsibilities, and set realistic timelines. JCI provides a standardised template through the JCI Virtual Community (JVC).
Access the JCI Virtual Community (jvc.jci.cc). Navigate to the Programs section and locate the Twinning registration form.
Complete the registration form and attach your Plan of Action with clearly stated Key Performance Indicators aligned with JCI’s global strategy.
Coordinate with your partner to ensure only one organisation submits the registration. Duplicate submissions are not permitted and will delay the process.
Attend the twinning ceremony in person. Both signatories must be physically present at the designated international event. If one signatory is absent, the agreement is removed from the official ceremony without exception.

Only one organisation needs to initiate the process. The submitting organisation coordinates the timeline with their partner before submission.

Registration deadlines (2025): international events

Event	Registration Deadline
JCI Area Conferences	Opened 25 February 2025
JCI Conference of America	3 April 2025
JCI Africa & Middle East Conference	15 April 2025
JCI European Conference	29 April 2025
JCI Asia & the Pacific Conference	8 May 2025
JCI World Congress	30 September 2025 (23:59 GMT)

JCI World Congress registration opens 21 August 2025.

How to sustain a twinning partnership after signing

A signed agreement that produces no joint activity will not be renewed. Three activities consistently sustain active twinning relationships:

Member exchange visits: sending a delegation to your partner’s city – or hosting theirs – builds personal connections between members and creates direct cross-cultural experience. These visits are the single most commonly cited driver of long-term partnership renewal.
Joint development projects: projects that combine each organisation’s distinct strengths produce outcomes neither partner could achieve independently. Leadership development programmes and community initiatives are the most frequently co-developed project types within JCI twinning frameworks.
Inter-city cooperation: where existing sister-city agreements are in place between municipalities, JCI twinning can operate within that broader civic framework. Where no such agreement exists, a JCI twinning partnership can itself become the catalyst for establishing one.

Frequently asked questions about JCI twinning

What is a JCI twinning agreement?

A JCI twinning agreement is a formal, registered partnership between two or more JCI national or local organisations from different countries or regions. It is backed by a joint Plan of Action with measurable goals and must be renewed annually through active collaboration.

Can a JCI local chapter have more than one twinning partner?

Yes. JCI explicitly encourages multi-twinning arrangements, particularly at regional level. A local chapter can maintain simultaneous twinning agreements with multiple organisations. There is no stated upper limit on the number of active twinning partners a chapter may hold.

Does a JCI twinning agreement renew automatically?

No. Both organisations must actively execute their joint Plan of Action and maintain engagement through collaborative activities throughout the year. An agreement that produces no joint output will not be renewed.

Where do I register a JCI twinning agreement?

Through the JCI Virtual Community (JVC) at jvc.jci.cc, in the Programs section. Only one of the two partner organisations needs to initiate the submission. Coordinate with your partner in advance to avoid duplicate registrations, which are not permitted.

What happens if one signatory cannot attend the twinning ceremony?

If one of the two designated signatories is not physically present at the international event, the twinning agreement is removed from the official ceremony list. There are no exceptions. Both parties must hold valid event registrations and tickets.

What is multi-twinning in JCI?

JCI multi-twinning is an arrangement where three or more organisations — typically from neighbouring countries — collectively form a shared regional partnership network. Rather than bilateral agreements, they operate as a coordinated group with shared resources and joint programming. The Balkan multi-twinning initiative is JCI’s most cited example of this model.

What is the difference between LO–LO and NO–NO twinning?

LO–LO (local organisation to local organisation) twinning connects two city-level JCI chapters, making it the most common format and the most accessible entry point for most members. NO–NO (national organisation to national organisation) twinning operates at the highest level, connecting entire national JCI bodies for long-term strategic cooperation.

Starting a JCI twinning partnership

JCI Belgium supports its local chapters in establishing twinning relationships at every stage – from identifying suitable partners to preparing the Plan of Action and coordinating the registration process. Contact JCI Belgium’s EVP International for guidance, or visit the JCI Virtual Community to begin the registration process directly.

Twinning agreements Belgian local chapters

Local chapter	District	Twinned with	Country
JCI Aalst	East Flanders	No info received
JCI Antwerpen	Antwerp	JCI Duisburg	Germany
JCI Antwerpen	Antwerp	JCI Hamburg	Germany
JCI Antwerpen	Antwerp	JCI Istanbul	Turkye
JCI Antwerpen	Antwerp	JCI Riga International	Latvia
JCI Antwerpen	Antwerp	JCI Rotterdam Haven	The Netherlands
JCI Antwerpen	Antwerp	JCI Saint Petersburg	Russia
JCI Antwerpen	Antwerp	JCI Turku	Finland
JCI Arlon	Luxembourg	No info received
JCI Ath-Pays Vert	Henegouwen	No info received
JCI Bastogne	Luxembourg	JCI Reims	France
JCI Brugge	West Flanders	JCI Helsinki Central Park	Finland
JCI Brugge	West Flanders	JCI Kennemerland	The Netherlands
JCI Brugge	West Flanders	JCI Beziers	France
JCI Brussel	Brussels	No info received
JCI Bruxelles	Brussels	No info received
JCI Centre Ardenne	Luxembourg	No info received
JCI Damme	West Flanders	No info received
JCI Deinze-Latem	East Flanders	No info received
JCI Dinant	Namur	No info received
JCI Durbuy Ourthe et Aisne	Luxembourg	No info received
JCI Eupen und Umgebung	Luxembourg	No info received
JCI Gaume	Luxembourg	No info received
JCI Gembloux	Namur	No info received
JCI Genk	Limburg	JCI Bad-Neuenahr	Germany
JCI Genk	Limburg	JCI West-Friesland	The Netherlands
JCI Genk	Limburg	JCI Tammerkoski	Finland
JCI Genk	Limburg	JCI Ankara	Turkye
JCI Gent	East Flanders	No info received
JCI Harelbeke	West Flanders	No info received
JCI Haspengouw	Limburg	JCI Krakau	Poland
JCI Haspengouw	Limburg	JCI Pirkanmaa	Finland
JCI Hasselt	Limburg	JCI Alpen aan den Rijn	The Netherlands
JCI Hasselt	Limburg	JCI Edinburgh	Scotland
JCI Hasselt	Limburg	JCI Lappeenranta	Finland
JCI Hasselt	Limburg	JCI Mannheim-Ludwigshafen	Germany
JCI Hasselt	Limburg	JCI Reykjavik	Iceland
JCI Hasselt	Limburg	JCI Sabadell	Catalonie, Spain
JCI Hasselt	Limburg	JCI Villefranche et du Beaujolais	France
JCI Houtland	West Flanders	No info received
JCI Mechelen	Vlaams-Brabant	No info received
JCI Kortrijk	West Flanders	JCI Southampton	United Kingdom
JCI Leuven	Flemish Brabant	JCI Curitiba	Brasil
JCI Leuven	Flemish Brabant	JCI ‘s Hertogenbosch	The Netherlands
JCI Leuven	Flemish Brabant	WJ Dortmund	Germany
JCI Liège	Liège	No info received
JCI Lier	Antwerp	JCI Aberdeen	Scotland
JCI Malmedy – Hautes Fagnes	Luxembourg	JCI de Beaune	France
JCI Pays de Herve	Liège	No info received
JCI Menen-Wevelgem	West Flanders	No info received
JCI Tielt	West Flanders	JCI Epernay	France
JCI Tournai	Henegouwen	No info received	None
JCI Veurne-Westkust	West Flanders	No info received	None
JCI Waasland	East Flanders	JCI Oulu	Finland
JCI Roeselare-Izegem	West Flanders	No info received
JCI Ronse	West Flanders	JCI Zeeuws-Vlaanderen	Belgium
JCI Ronse	West Flanders	JCI Verviers	Belgium
JCI Waregem	West Flanders	No info received
JCI The Heart of Europe	Brussels	No info received
JCI Oudenaarde	West Flanders	No info received
JCI Oostende-Middenkust	West Flanders	No info received