Baku: Angola is among the 180 nations that will, starting this Sunday, be present at the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF), taking place from the 17th to the 22nd of this month in Baku, Azerbaijan, where an Angolan delegation headed by the Minister of Public Works, Urban Planning and Housing, Carlos dos Santos, is already present.
According to Angola Press News Agency, this participation marks Angola as a regular participant in the biennial WUF, with the last edition being held in Cairo, Egypt, in 2024. During that event, Angola showcased an innovative and collaborative platform aimed at boosting sustainable urban development in African cities and advancing the National Urban Planning and Housing Plan.
For the current forum, Angola is presenting an exhibition that highlights the country's advancements in urban planning and development. The exhibition details projects such as Njila and SONA, which are central to the Angolan Government's strategic efforts in development, decentralization, and enhancing the quality of life in municipalities, as explained by Paulo Tecas, the spokesperson for the Angolan delegation.
The 13th World Urban Forum will address critical topics, including housing finance, the social and economic dimensions of housing, and the global housing crisis. Under the theme "Housing for the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities," the event is set to host over 20,000 participants from 180 countries at the Baku Olympic Stadium, focusing on tackling major urban challenges globally.
This forum, recognized as the main global conference on urbanization, is organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Government of Azerbaijan. It is structured around six dialogues, each exploring how adequate housing can foster inclusion, equity, and climate resilience, thereby integrating housing into the broader urban environment.
The forum will feature various formats, including roundtables, assemblies, and special sessions, which will facilitate discussions among urban actors such as civil society, the private sector, academia, governments, and international organizations.
The World Urban Forum has a storied history, beginning in 2002 in Nairobi, Kenya, with the theme "Sustainable Urbanization." Since then, it has been hosted in cities like Barcelona, Vancouver, Nanjing, Rio de Janeiro, Naples, Medelln, Quito, Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi, Katowice, and Cairo, each addressing different aspects of urban development and planning.