UN-Habitat to channel WUF13 outcomes into “Baku call to action"

UN-Habitat will directly transmit the outcomes and key conclusions from the assemblies to a stakeholder-led advisory group tasked with preparing the “Baku Call to Action,” according to the head of the UN-Habitat office in Azerbaijan, Anna Soave.

Speaking during the closing session of the first day of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Soave said the draft document has already been made available online for review and public feedback, describing the step as crucial for the process, Caliber.Az reports.

She noted that the previous day’s assemblies represented the culmination of months of intensive consultations and discussions among stakeholder groups, and stressed the importance of maintaining momentum.

Soave urged both stakeholder groups and UN-Habitat to sustain what she described as a strong spirit of cooperation in order to translate intended outcomes into concrete action. She said the assemblies had set a high level of expectation and effectively shaped the tone of the entire forum.

She also emphasised that cities are at the forefront of urban and climate-related challenges, calling for stronger alliances between local authorities, civil society, the private sector and other key actors, along with coordinated responses not only for stable conditions but also for periods of crisis.

Soave further highlighted the diversity of cities worldwide, noting that demographic changes—from ageing populations in some regions to youth-dominated cities in others—create varying demands on infrastructure and services. She said this requires moving away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach in favour of more tailored urban management strategies and solutions.

By Sabina Mammadli