Baku Hosts Major Urban Development Forum

Why this is here: WUF13 in Baku convened participants from 176 countries, making it a large international gathering focused on urban development challenges.

The 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing together over 57,000 participants from 176 countries. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) sponsored the event, which focused on sustainable urban development and housing for all. Discussions centered on the global housing crisis, with UN estimates showing roughly 2.8 billion people currently live in inadequate housing.

The forum resulted in the Baku Call to Action, a document outlining shared priorities for addressing the housing crisis and implementing the New Urban Agenda. This document stresses the need for international cooperation and increased climate financing. Participants also discussed integrating housing policy with areas like infrastructure and environmental sustainability.

Azerbaijan’s efforts toward post-conflict recovery and urban modernization received praise. The 4SRP project, a collaboration between Azerbaijan and several international organizations, aims to establish standards for sustainable return to liberated territories.

While WUF13 confirmed Baku’s role as a dialogue platform, the implementation of the Baku Call to Action remains a complex undertaking. The forum’s outcomes will inform a UN General Assembly meeting in July 2026.