The thirteenth session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in Baku, is not merely a high-level international gathering; it is also a clear manifestation of Azerbaijan\u2019s growing position within the global agenda on urban development and human settlements. Convened from 17 to 22 May 2026 under the theme \u201cHousing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities,\u201d the Forum attracted remarkable international participation. According to official data, by 16 May more than 40,000 participants from 182 countries had registered, while over 21,000 delegates from 162 countries were present in Baku on the opening day alone. (1)<\/p>\n
UN-Habitat has characterized WUF13 as the second largest international event in Azerbaijan\u2019s history after COP29. Consequently, within only two years, Azerbaijan has become a principal venue first for global climate policy discussions and now for global urban policy debates. This continuity demonstrates that Azerbaijan\u2019s role as a host country for international forums has evolved from episodic engagement into an institutionalized dimension of its foreign policy and global governance profile.<\/p>\n
It should also be emphasized that the World Urban Forum was established by the United Nations in 2001 as one of the highest-level global platforms dedicated to sustainable urbanization. According to its official description, WUF is the \u201cpremier global conference on sustainable urbanization,\u201d bringing together a broad spectrum of actors ranging from governments and academic institutions to businesses, local communities, and civil society organizations. The WUF13 programme included more than 470 events and a multilateral consultation process culminating in the adoption of the outcome document entitled the \u201cBaku Call to Action.\u201d These facts confirm that WUF13 was not simply a symbolic showcase event, but rather a normative and practical platform where discussions on the global housing crisis, urban resilience, and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda were translated into policy-oriented outcomes.<\/p>\n
Overall, several substantial factors explain why such a prestigious global event was entrusted to Azerbaijan. First and foremost is the country\u2019s growing international credibility and its recognition as a reliable partner. The official WUF13 website describes the decision to hold the Forum in Baku as \u201cevidence of Azerbaijan\u2019s contribution to international urbanization processes and the trust it has earned as a dependable partner\u201d. (2) This trust did not emerge spontaneously. In 2023, Baku hosted the global observance of World Habitat Day organized by UN-Habitat, attended by approximately 1,000 participants from 108 countries. (3) Subsequently, Baku was selected as the host city for WUF13 in 2026, while Azerbaijan also assumed the co-chairmanship of the UN-Habitat Intergovernmental Working Group on \u201cAdequate Housing for All\u201d in 2025. These developments indicate that Azerbaijan is no longer merely a provider of logistical infrastructure for international events; rather, it is increasingly becoming an institutional participant in the global urban governance agenda promoted by the United Nations.<\/p>\n
The thirteenth session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in Baku, is not merely a high-level international gathering; it is also a clear manifestation of Azerbaijan\u2019s growing position within the global agenda on urban development and human settlements. Convened from 17 to 22 May 2026 under the theme \u201cHousing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities,\u201d the Forum attracted remarkable international participation. According to official data, by 16 May more than 40,000 participants from 182 countries had registered, while over 21,000 delegates from 162 countries were present in Baku on the opening day alone. (1)<\/p>\n
UN-Habitat has characterized WUF13 as the second largest international event in Azerbaijan\u2019s history after COP29. Consequently, within only two years, Azerbaijan has become a principal venue first for global climate policy discussions and now for global urban policy debates. This continuity demonstrates that Azerbaijan\u2019s role as a host country for international forums has evolved from episodic engagement into an institutionalized dimension of its foreign policy and global governance profile.<\/p>\n
It should also be emphasized that the World Urban Forum was established by the United Nations in 2001 as one of the highest-level global platforms dedicated to sustainable urbanization. According to its official description, WUF is the \u201cpremier global conference on sustainable urbanization,\u201d bringing together a broad spectrum of actors ranging from governments and academic institutions to businesses, local communities, and civil society organizations. The WUF13 programme included more than 470 events and a multilateral consultation process culminating in the adoption of the outcome document entitled the \u201cBaku Call to Action.\u201d These facts confirm that WUF13 was not simply a symbolic showcase event, but rather a normative and practical platform where discussions on the global housing crisis, urban resilience, and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda were translated into policy-oriented outcomes.<\/p>\n
Overall, several substantial factors explain why such a prestigious global event was entrusted to Azerbaijan. First and foremost is the country\u2019s growing international credibility and its recognition as a reliable partner. The official WUF13 website describes the decision to hold the Forum in Baku as \u201cevidence of Azerbaijan\u2019s contribution to international urbanization processes and the trust it has earned as a dependable partner\u201d. (2) This trust did not emerge spontaneously. In 2023, Baku hosted the global observance of World Habitat Day organized by UN-Habitat, attended by approximately 1,000 participants from 108 countries. (3) Subsequently, Baku was selected as the host city for WUF13 in 2026, while Azerbaijan also assumed the co-chairmanship of the UN-Habitat Intergovernmental Working Group on \u201cAdequate Housing for All\u201d in 2025. These developments indicate that Azerbaijan is no longer merely a provider of logistical infrastructure for international events; rather, it is increasingly becoming an institutional participant in the global urban governance agenda promoted by the United Nations.<\/p>\n
At the current stage, Azerbaijan\u2019s principal approach is not merely to restore the destroyed territories to their previous condition, but to reconstruct them in accordance with contemporary principles of sustainable development. According to the state-led \u201cGreat Return\u201d platform, twelve specialized working groups are engaged in activities ranging from urban planning and environmental protection to energy supply, transportation, mine clearance, and population resettlement. (8) The distinguishing feature of this strategy is its integration of \u201cgreen\u201d and \u201csmart\u201d development paradigms. UNEP notes that the government\u2019s reconstruction vision prioritizes a \u201cgreen recovery\u201d approach, including ambitious objectives such as achieving \u201czero emissions\u201d and \u201czero waste\u201d in the conflict-affected region by 2050, while new settlements are being designed according to \u201csmart city\u201d and \u201csmart village\u201d concepts. (9)<\/p>\n
For this reason, WUF13 generates significant discursive capital for Azerbaijan. Official information released on the Forum\u2019s opening day noted that participants emphasized the devastating effects of wars, conflicts, and disasters on cities, housing stock, infrastructure, and essential services, while Azerbaijan\u2019s post-conflict reconstruction experience was presented as a \u201cnoteworthy example\u201d that could serve as a reference point for countries facing similar challenges. Ministerial discussions held during WUF13 further highlighted the necessity of considering housing policy in conjunction with land governance, infrastructure, transportation, public services, employment, and climate resilience. This approach corresponds closely with the methodological foundation of reconstruction efforts in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, namely an integrated planning model. (10)<\/p>\n
The multilateral process surrounding the \u201cBaku Call to Action\u201d further strengthens the global dissemination of this experience. UN-Habitat has stated that the zero draft of the outcome document was prepared prior to the Forum through contributions from more than 2,000 participants representing eleven stakeholder groups and was subsequently enriched through discussions held during over 400 events throughout Forum week. In this sense, Baku functions not merely as a physical venue, but as a global platform through which Azerbaijan presents its post-conflict reconstruction, housing, resource resilience, and local governance experiences within a multilateral framework. Accordingly, WUF13 should be viewed not only as a consequence of Azerbaijan\u2019s growing international prestige, but also as a mechanism for deepening and consolidating that prestige. (11)<\/p>\n
The principal lesson that other states may derive from this experience is that post-conflict reconstruction should not be reduced to the rebuilding of destroyed structures alone. First, mine clearance, environmental assessment, and urban planning must be approached simultaneously; in the Azerbaijani case, these are not separate sectors, but mutually interdependent processes. Second, initiatives such as \u201cgreen energy zones,\u201d \u201csmart villages,\u201d integrated park systems, and social-service networks demonstrate that the sustainability of return processes cannot be measured solely through housing provision, but also through quality of life and economic opportunity. Third, as UNEP has warned, the ecological implications of rapid reconstruction must be continuously monitored. Consequently, the Azerbaijani model may be particularly instructive for countries interested in the intersection of recovery, stability, and green transformation, although its adaptation inevitably depends upon local governance capacities and financial resources.<\/p>\n
\u0130t should also be noted that on 20 May 2026, the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) organized a special discussion within the framework of WUF13 dedicated to the broader implications of sustainable urbanization, post-conflict recovery, and international cooperation in urban governance. The event brought together experts, policymakers, and scholars to examine the relationship between urban resilience, reconstruction policies, and the socio-political dimensions of sustainable development in post-conflict environments. Particular attention was devoted to the challenges of rebuilding destroyed urban spaces, strengthening institutional governance capacities, and integrating environmental sustainability into long-term reconstruction strategies. Discussions also emphasized the growing importance of multilateral dialogue and knowledge-sharing mechanisms under platforms such as the World Urban Forum for addressing contemporary urban challenges. The significance of the event stemmed from its contribution to connecting Azerbaijan\u2019s post-conflict reconstruction experience with broader global debates on sustainable urban development, while simultaneously positioning the country as an active participant in international policy discussions concerning resilient and inclusive cities.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, the organization of WUF13 in Baku represents the logical continuation of Azerbaijan\u2019s hosting of two major global events within the span of two years-first COP29 and subsequently WUF13. This role rests upon three principal foundations: international trust and partnership capital, the stability necessary for the secure and uninterrupted organization of large-scale events, and an extensive infrastructure base encompassing air transportation, hospitality, and urban mobility. Simultaneously, the reconstruction processes underway in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur-against the backdrop of urbicide, environmental destruction, and cultural heritage devastation resulting from the Armenian occupation-directly resonate with the thematic focus of WUF13. The issue at stake is not simply the elimination of ruins; rather, it concerns the construction of a new model of settlement that is safe, inclusive, sustainable, and climate-sensitive. For precisely this reason, WUF13 should be regarded not only as a reflection of Azerbaijan\u2019s international prestige, but also as a strategic platform through which the country presents its post-conflict urban development experience to the wider world.<\/p>\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/wuf.unhabitat.org\/<\/a> The thirteenth session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in Baku, is not merely a high-level international gathering; it is also a clear manifestation of Azerbaijan\u2019s growing position within the global agenda on urban development and human settlements. Convened from 17 to 22 May 2026 under the theme \u201cHousing the World: Safe…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air-center","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1928"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1928\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1930,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1928\/revisions\/1930"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nhttps:\/\/wuf13.az\/en\/<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/urbanoctober.unhabitat.org\/world-habitat-day-2023-building-resilient-urban-economies<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/airport.az\/en\/press-release\/heydar-aliyev-international-airport-2024-achievements-and-results\/<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.taylorfrancis.com\/books\/mono\/10.4324\/9780203890639\/urbicide-martin-coward<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/oic-iphrc.org\/pdf\/rebort\/Azerbaijan%20Visit%20Report%20EV.pdf<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/eco.gov.az\/frq-content\/plugins\/pages_v1\/entry\/20221223145000_59496900.pdf<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/president.az\/en\/greatreturn<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/eco.gov.az\/frq-content\/plugins\/pages_v1\/entry\/20221223145000_59496900.pdf<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/wuf13.az\/en\/media\/news\/0729\/First-Day-of-WUF13-Marked-by-Ministerial-Meeting-Flag-Raising-Ceremony-and-Assembly-Sessions<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/wuf.unhabitat.org\/news\/wuf13-discussions-shape-final-baku-call-action<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"