The 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku has focused on the critical issues of transforming informal settlements and improving global housing standards. During the sessions, participants addressed the challenges posed by slums and the necessity of implementing large-scale housing reforms to ensure sustainable urban development.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, Executive Director of the UN-Habitat Anaclaudia Rossbach, and Professor Marie Huchzermeyer from South Africa's Wits University, among other speakers, emphasized that informal settlement is a serious challenge not only for developing nations but also for global megacities. The speakers noted that a systematic global result has yet to be achieved in this area and stressed the importance of integrating these issues into national legislation and financial systems. The Azerbaijan model for formalizing economic activity within informal settlements was also presented as a potential roadmap for other nations.
The World Urban Forum, established by the United Nations in 2001, serves as the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. By hosting WUF13, Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its role as a regional hub for international dialogue on urban planning and infrastructure development. The forum provides a platform for stakeholders to share best practices in urban transformation, aiming to improve living conditions for millions of people residing in non-formalized housing sectors worldwide.
