South-South cooperation seen as vital for urban solutions at WUF13

A panel discussion at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku focused on strengthening cooperation among countries of the Global South in response to rapid urbanisation and evolving development challenges.

The session, titled “South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Innovative Partnerships and Solutions in the Urbanising Global South,” was organised by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, according to local media.

Participants examined the accelerating pace of urbanisation across Africa and Asia, emphasising the growing need to expand access to housing and essential services. The discussion also addressed the importance of identifying sustainable and scalable solutions tailored to the needs of rapidly growing urban populations in the Global South.

Speakers highlighted that South-South and triangular cooperation mechanisms play a critical role in enabling countries to exchange expertise, enhance institutional capacity, and develop coordinated development strategies. These frameworks were described as particularly important in the context of ongoing global economic and geopolitical challenges, which continue to shape urban development trajectories.

By Tamilla Hasanova