UN-Habitat chief highlights importance of WUF13 session in Baku

The 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), set for May 2026 in Baku, holds significant importance for debating pressing urban concerns, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach stated.

At a media briefing on March 14, she highlighted that, within the framework of the forum, housing and urban development ministers will review progress and set future strategies, Caliber.Az reports.

“Here in Baku, we will bring together ministers of housing and urban development to assess progress and agree on future plans. This year, we are also reviewing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in New York, particularly Goal 11, which focuses on cities and communities. We are very concerned about SDG 11.1, which addresses access to housing and informal settlements, and we will discuss this here in Baku. We are significantly behind in achieving SDG 11 targets, so it is very important that in Baku we examine how people are actually addressing these issues, what practices, solutions, policies, and systemic changes are needed. This will make this year very significant for us,” Rossbach said.

Rossbach noted that nearly half of the world’s population—3 billion people—currently live in inadequate housing.

“We are not yet a fully urbanised planet. In the coming decades, another 2 billion people will move into cities. By then, the world will be 70% urbanized, and it will be essential to provide adequate housing for this influx, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia. I need not emphasise how housing challenges intersect with all other issues I mentioned in relation to climate change. But living in safe and adequate housing also enables healthy living, allows children to continue schooling, find employment, and more. Therefore, it is a critical condition for achieving the SDGs as we approach the 2030 deadline,” she stressed.

According to Rossbach, WUF13 is effectively the UN’s second-largest event. It is unique as it is designed as a platform for stakeholder engagement. Most activities are organised by partners, who come from around the world to Baku to share experiences and create a critical mass.

“We will have strong representation from local and regional authorities, academia, civil society, organised groups, women, grassroots leaders, people with disabilities, and self-organised groups. They will all come here to collaborate with us,” the director added.

The 13th session of the World Urban Forum will take place in Baku from May 17 to 22, 2026.

By Jeyhun Aghazada