UN Deputy Secretary-General lauds Azerbaijan’s infrastructure recovery

The United Nations has highlighted visible progress in infrastructure recovery and development across Azerbaijan, as the country continues large-scale reconstruction and urban renewal efforts.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed made the remarks during the closing ceremony of the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, commending Azerbaijan’s leadership in hosting the global event and its focus on urban transformation, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Government and people of Azerbaijan for their incredible hospitality and leadership in organising the 13th World Urban Forum here in Baku,” Mohammed said, noting that the designation of 2026 as the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” had placed urbanisation firmly on the international agenda.

She said that across Azerbaijan, observers could see “recovery, development, the reintegration of communities, and the restoration of infrastructure in conditions of peace,” adding that these efforts were turning territories into “engines of cultural life, social cohesion and economic growth.”

Mohammed also described Baku as a symbol of resilience and renewal, highlighting its status as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.

The UN official pointed to growing global challenges linked to climate change and urbanisation pressures, warning that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and destructive. Referring to recent heavy rains and storms in Azerbaijan, she said they served as a “stark reminder” of the need for resilience and unity in urban planning.

She further underlined the scale of the global housing crisis, linking it to rapid urbanisation, ongoing conflicts, entrenched inequality and climate change. According to Mohammed, the impacts of these challenges are converging most visibly in the housing sector.

“Our common future is, for the most part, a story of spatial planning, and at its heart lies the story of homes and housing,” she said, stressing that adequate housing is central to human dignity and essential for health, education, poverty reduction, gender equality and climate resilience.

Mohammed concluded that achieving the UN’s 2030 Agenda would not be possible without sustainable urbanisation and improved access to affordable housing worldwide.