The conference, organized by UN-Habitat together with Azerbaijan, opened on Sunday, May 17th, and ran through Friday, May 22nd. The event brought together world leaders, mayors, urban planning experts, as well as representatives of governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations. The theme of the forum was a call to action: Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities. According to the UN, nearly 2.8 billion people today are living in inadequate housing conditions, while more than 300 million have no home at all. With close to 70 per cent of the global population expected to live in cities by 2050, the crisis is only set to intensify.
In an interview with UN Video, the head of UN-Habitat, Anacláudia Rossbach, described the situation as a “global housing crisis.” She stated, “This crisis has long been most severe and structural in the Global South, but now it is also being felt in the Global North as well.” Ms. Rossbach highlighted the rising cost of living as a major issue, while international crises, including the war in the Middle East and related risks to global supply chains, further aggravate the housing situation.
The crisis goes far beyond bricks and mortar. Housing is increasingly seen as a cornerstone of human dignity, urban resilience, and global stability. Its impacts ripple across every aspect of life, straining healthcare and education systems, weakening economies, and fraying the social fabric. Francine Pickup, Deputy Director of the UN Development Programme and head of the UNDP delegation to WUF13, emphasized the importance of promoting integrated urban solutions that combine housing, climate resilience, governance, and local financing.
Ms. Pickup stated, “This global housing crisis that we’re in is not primarily a construction problem. We need to go beyond looking at building homes and houses and look at the urban setting and look at the housing issue as a complex problem.” One of the central themes of the forum was the rapid growth of informal settlements, or unplanned areas where residents lack legal claims to land and live in precarious housing.
Today, around 1.1 billion people live in slums, and projections suggest that figure could rise by another two billion in the coming decades. Children are especially vulnerable, with between 350 and 500 million estimated to live in slum conditions. UN-Habitat called for a shift away from approaches that view informal settlements solely as a problem. In many cases, such neighborhoods are the only way millions of people can secure shelter in cities.
Another issue set to loom large at the forum was how cities recover after war and disaster. By the end of 2022, more than 123 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance due to conflicts and natural disasters. Rebuilding cities in the aftermath of such events is a complex and challenging process that requires coordination between governments, international organizations, and local communities.
The forum in Baku provided a platform for discussions on innovative solutions to tackle the global housing crisis. Participants shared best practices, lessons learned, and future strategies to ensure safe and resilient cities and communities for all. The importance of partnerships and collaboration across sectors was highlighted as key to addressing the multifaceted challenges of housing in the 21st century.
One of the key outcomes of the forum was the recognition that housing is not just about providing shelter, but about creating inclusive and sustainable communities. Access to safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right that underpins the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. By investing in housing and urban development, countries can promote economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability.
Moving forward, the forum called for increased political will and financial resources to address the global housing crisis. Governments were urged to prioritize housing and urban development in their policy agendas and to work towards creating inclusive and resilient cities for all. International cooperation and solidarity were emphasized as essential to achieving the goal of housing the world.
In conclusion, the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum in Baku was a crucial platform for global leaders to come together and address the pressing challenges of housing and urban development. By fostering dialogue, sharing knowledge, and building partnerships, the forum laid the groundwork for a more sustainable and equitable future for cities and communities around the world. It is clear that housing the world is not just a lofty goal, but a fundamental necessity for a better and more prosperous world for all.
