Baku will host the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) from 17 to 22 May, bringing together around 25,000 participants from 176 countries to address the global housing crisis and sustainable urban development.
Held under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities”, the forum will focus on housing as a key driver of inclusive and resilient urban growth.
Organisers say the event will emphasise housing as a human right and its role in shaping global policy frameworks.
WUF13 will feature six high-level dialogues bringing together global leaders, policymakers and experts to examine solutions to housing challenges. Discussions will explore how equitable housing can support wider goals such as climate resilience, inclusive governance, land security and integrated urban planning.
The forum comes at a time when global housing pressures remain severe.
Organisers note that nearly three billion people are affected by inadequate housing conditions, with more than 1.1 billion living in informal settlements or slums, and over 300 million experiencing homelessness. Rising climate risks and widening inequalities are further compounding the challenge.
As a midpoint milestone in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, WUF13 is expected to influence global urban policy discussions and contribute to the United Nations Secretary-General’s 2026 report on its progress.
Hosting the forum places Baku at the centre of global urban discussions.
Officials highlight the city’s transformation and its blend of heritage and modern development, positioning it as a meeting point between East and West.
Anar Guliyev, chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture and WUF13 national coordinator, said the city was prepared to welcome participants.
“We invite you all to Baku to join WUF13, a significant milestone in our partnership with UN-Habitat,” he said.
“Our city welcomes you with friendship and a spirit of collaboration, ready to work together to advance our shared goals and contribute to shaping a better urban future for all, leaving no one behind.”
The forum is expected to highlight practical approaches linking housing policy with broader urban systems, including climate adaptation and locally driven development.
U.S. and Pakistani leaders forecast a Sunday signing of a long-elusive framework agreement to end fighting between the United States and Iran, as Reut...
Senior officials from Azerbaijan and Armenia held a working meeting in Dilijan, Armenia, on 14 June to discuss issues related to the peace agenda betw...
Tajikistan has strengthened its position as one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing economies. According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and D...
The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 to close out the series 4-1 and claim their first NBA championship since 1973, sparking celeb...
In the runup to the G7 summit, hosted by France in Évian-les-Bains on Monday, 15 June, China has addressed global economic balances in a videoconfer...
Senior officials from Azerbaijan and Armenia held a working meeting in Dilijan, Armenia, on 14 June to discuss issues related to the peace agenda between the two countries.
Tajikistan has strengthened its position as one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing economies. According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the trend is supported by investment activity, industrial expansion and large-scale infrastructure projects.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Georgia to implement reforms to tackle youth unemployment. Nearly 30 per cent of people aged 15-24 are without a job in the country, according to World Bank data.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to publish the UK government's long-awaited Defence Investment Plan ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankara, following growing pressure over the UK's military spending commitments.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
Armenia has every right to choose Europe. But Europe’s support for Armenia’s direction should not become automatic approval of its political process.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
Japan’s birth rate and fertility levels have fallen to their lowest levels on record, highlighting the country’s worsening demographic crisis as fewer people marry and have children.
The global race to develop quantum computing is accelerating, with governments and technology firms investing heavily in what is expected to become a major new computing era.
Senior officials from Azerbaijan and Armenia held a working meeting in Dilijan, Armenia, on 14 June to discuss issues related to the peace agenda between the two countries.
Tajikistan has strengthened its position as one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing economies. According to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the trend is supported by investment activity, industrial expansion and large-scale infrastructure projects.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Georgia to implement reforms to tackle youth unemployment. Nearly 30 per cent of people aged 15-24 are without a job in the country, according to World Bank data.
Kazakhstan’s ruling Amanat party has announced it will merge with a party launched only a month ago by allies of the country’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
An Indian pollution regulator has accused a Tata components factory supplying Apple iPhones of contaminating groundwater near farmland with wastewater, raising the prospect of a forced shutdown unless the company provides a satisfactory response.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment