Anaklaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), has expressed her gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the successful organization of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Rossbach conveyed her appreciation in a letter addressed to the head of state, highlighting the significance of the event.
"On behalf of UN-Habitat, I extend my deepest gratitude to you and your government for hosting WUF13 with unparalleled success. WUF13 marked a significant milestone for the global housing community and UN-Habitat. The forum brought together a record number of participants from around the world, representing national and local governments, civil society, academia, the private sector, youth groups, international organizations, and other stakeholders committed to advancing sustainable urban development," Rossbach wrote.
The Executive Director noted that WUF13 held historical importance as the first World Urban Forum session held in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. She emphasized that the successful execution of the event reflected the strong commitment, leadership, and hospitality of the government and people of Azerbaijan. The close cooperation between UN-Habitat and Azerbaijan played a decisive role in ensuring the efficient preparation and organization of the session across all substantive, operational, and logistical areas.
WUF13 was marked by several ambitious outcomes, including the "Baku Call to Action," the final document of the Ministerial Meeting (Chairs' Summary), and the largest "Urban Expo" exhibition in the history of the World Urban Forum. The event also introduced innovative initiatives such as the WUF Academy, the Business and Innovation Center, and the Experience Center, further strengthening the forum's position as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, partnerships, and practical urban solutions.
These outcomes and experiences from WUF13 have paved the way for strengthening global cooperation and advancing the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the 11th Sustainable Development Goal. Furthermore, WUF13 left a lasting legacy, including the "WUF13 Baku Standards," which will contribute to the development of an operational guide for future World Urban Forum sessions, as well as the Baku Urban Planning Award.
The World Urban Forum is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization, established by the United Nations in 2001 to examine the rapid urbanization of the world and its impact on communities, cities, economies, and policies.
