Baku ready to host World Urban Forum, UN-Habitat says

Baku is fully prepared to host the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), said Anacláudia Rossbach, the executive director of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

Speaking at UN headquarters in New York, Rossbach said a report submitted by Azerbaijan to UN member states shows preparations are being carried out to a high standard.

She described the meetings and discussions taking place ahead of WUF13 as a major global moment focused on cities and urbanisation. Rossbach said the forum would effectively serve as a worldwide checkpoint on the UN’s New Urban Agenda, adopted in 2016, as it approaches its tenth year of implementation.

“We are analysing the New Urban Agenda and must now define new goals for the next decade,” she said. “The world faces many global challenges, and cities play a central role in addressing them. Housing is also a key priority.”

Rossbach added that UN outcomes over the past year on climate, financing and social development had reinforced the central role of urbanisation, local governance and housing policy in the global agenda. In that context, she said holding WUF13 in partnership with Azerbaijan was of particular importance.

She also announced that a high-level event under the auspices of the UN General Assembly will take place in New York on July 16–17 to review progress over the past decade and set future priorities. 

The meeting will include an assessment of Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat serves as the custodian agency for the goal.

Issues such as informal settlements and housing remain critical, Rossbach said, stressing the need to accelerate action. She noted that the year marks the start of UN-Habitat’s new strategic plan, which places housing policy at its centre.

On preparations in Azerbaijan, Rossbach said Baku was logistically and infrastructurally ready to host the forum. She added that early registration figures indicate strong international interest and demand for participation.

According to Rossbach, WUF13 is expected to provide a major international platform for discussing urban challenges, sharing practical solutions and exchanging expert knowledge.

By Aghakazim Guliyev