13th World Urban Forum Concludes in Baku with Focus on Housing and Sustainable Development

The 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing together over 53,000 participants to address global housing crises and sustainable urban development strategies.

Key points

• The forum featured more than 400 events and 400 speakers, with 55 percent of participants identified as women and girls.
• The 'Baku Call to Action' was established as a primary outcome to guide future global urban policy and housing initiatives.
• The event included the inaugural Leaders' Summit and the first-ever NGO Forum focused on global partnerships.
• The symbolic baton for the 14th session of the World Urban Forum was prepared for transfer to Mexico City for 2028.

Why it matters

The forum solidified a global coalition to address the urgent housing crisis and integrate sustainable, climate-resilient practices into urban governance frameworks worldwide.