International Affairs

California’s rich history, innovative spirit, and incredibly diverse geography and demographics continue to attract visitors from all over the world. California has built strong working relationships with international partners and organizations through collaborative initiatives and engagement of fruitful discussions. During emergencies, these international collaborations are vital for a shared exchange of resources and mutual aid to areas devastated by disasters throughout the world. Due to California’s diverse geography, the state experiences all types of disasters, including wildfires, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and drought. The increasing occurrences of these disasters have spotlighted global awareness of California’s expertise in emergency management. Countries and international organizations around the world are interested in engaging with California on emergency management and disaster preparedness by sharing best practices, lessons learned, training opportunities, and technology.

The International Affairs Office within the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is the liaison for all international affairs. This includes coordinating foreign delegation visits, negotiating, and developing binational memorandums of understanding, advising on international policy, working with foreign governments to coordinate mutual aid during disasters, and working with Community-Based Organizations to provide resources on emergency preparedness for the vulnerable population. Cal OES has entered into Memorandums of Understanding with international partners and organizations including the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Australia, Baja California North in Mexico, and Chile. These international agreements foster cooperation and a commitment to share best practices, lessons learned, training opportunities, and mutual exchange of technical knowledge and expertise.

Role and Responsibilities

The International Affairs Office is responsible for the coordination of foreign delegation visits. The purpose of the visits is for a mutual exchange of best practices, lessons learned, disaster response gaps with a focus on emergency management, technical expertise, homeland security, and cybersecurity.

California has experienced historic wildfires, such as the August Complex Fire, referred to as a “gigafire”, which burned over one million acres. The International Affairs Office assists with the coordination of international mutual aid, which is the concept of “neighbor helping neighbor”. Throughout wildfire seasons, California and international countries have partnered in providing mutual aid to one another to combat the devastating wildfires. A team of 10 firefighters from Israel traveled to California to assist in battling some of the largest wildfires in the state’s history, including the SCU Lightning Complex. Additionally, 100 firefighters from Mexico traveled to California to combat the devastating wildfires alongside California firefighters. Similarly, over 40 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand assisted California firefighters to combat the Mendocino Complex Fire and Carr Fire.

Israeli firefighters traveled to California to help combat the wildfires alongside California firefighters.

The International Affairs Office coordinated a donation of approximately 4 million in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the State of Baja California’s Secretary of Health, the City of Mexicali, and non-governmental organizations to support COVID-19 containment efforts along the California-Mexico border region. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the office coordinated with thirteen countries who donated 3 million in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to aid California in slowing the spread of the virus.

During disasters, the role of the International Affairs Office is to collaborate and work with the State Department, Consular Corps, and many Community-Based Organizations by sharing disaster information of the impacted areas and resources available for the vulnerable populations, such as immigrants, farmworkers, and the undocumented. The office works jointly with the Consulates and Community-Based Organizations by identifying unmet needs within their communities and stakeholders and disseminates resource information, such as grant opportunities and disaster guides. In coordination with Listos California, the International Affairs Office provided over 19,000 printed copies of the Farmworker Disaster Guide and Disaster Ready Guide to the consulates to disseminate within their jurisdictions.

Furthermore, the Cal OES International Affairs Office works closely with the Governor’s Office and Lieutenant Governor’s Office on international affairs initiatives. These include the International Affairs and Trade Development Interagency Committee, Commission of the Californias, California-Mexico Border Relations Council, as well as international trade missions

International Delegations

International Affairs coordinates all foreign delegation visits to Cal OES. Delegation visits foster mutual understanding and collaboration while enhancing a shared commitment to emergency management and disaster mitigation training, awareness, and education.

Cal OES has welcomed international delegations from all over the world, including Australia, Chile, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Tajikistan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Middle East, the European Union, South Africa, and many more. Likewise, Cal OES subject matter experts have traveled abroad to meet with international partners for discussions on emergency management.

Foreign National Visit Request

To facilitate safe and secure visits, foreign delegations requesting to visit California state agencies need to complete and submit the Foreign National Screening Form 15 days before an official visit. Emailed the form to Travelsecurity@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov and the Cal OES International Affairs points of contact.

If you represent an international organization or country and would like to request a visit to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, please complete and submit the Cal OES Foreign National Screening Form and Visit Request Form to the International Affairs Office points of contact.

• Foreign National Screening Form
• Cal OES Visit Request Form

Memorandums of Understanding

Cal OES has entered into Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with various international partners and organizations, including Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Baja California, and Chile. These agreements serve to mutually share best practices, lessons learned, training opportunities, and exchange of technical knowledge and expertise.