First-ever NGO forum opens at WUF13 for civil society participation PHOTO

For the first time in the history of the World Urban Forum (WUF), an NGO Forum has been held as part of WUF13, organised by the Azerbaijan NGO Agency in partnership with the Global South NGO Platform, which brings together organisations from 116 countries.

According to Report, speaking at the opening ceremony, Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Anacláudia Rossbach, described the Forum as a historic milestone for WUF. She stressed the key role of civil society in urban development and in decision-making processes.

Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev, highlighted that Azerbaijan has become an important platform for fostering cooperation between the Global North and Global South through active diplomacy, as well as for advancing effective dialogue.

He also noted that new cities are being built and life is being restored in the mine-contaminated territories of Karabakh and East Zangezur, adding that Azerbaijan is ready to share its experience with international partners.

Former Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, said the future of cities should be shaped not only by governments but also by local communities and civil society.

Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, Dima Al-Khatib, described the Global South NGO Platform as a “fantastic project” and congratulated Azerbaijan on its establishment.

Member of the WUF13 Organising Committee and Chair of the Board of the Azerbaijan NGO Agency, Aygun Aliyeva, said her organisation would continue contributing to building strong relations between local and international NGOs.

Former UN-Habitat Governing Council Secretary, Kristian Møen, congratulated the platform on establishing a civil society hub for local and international NGOs at WUF13.

Deputy Secretary-General for Latin America of the Platform and former Foreign Minister of Ecuador, Luis Gallegos, stressed that global partnerships go beyond states, noting that international organisations, the private sector, NGOs, local communities, academia and other stakeholders must all take part.

Following the opening ceremony, a panel discussion was held on “Sustainable and Inclusive Urban Development”.

Around 800 representatives of international and local non-governmental organisations participated in the WUF13 NGO Forum.