The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.
Reimagining urban regeneration across regions: how housing, land and integrated basic services can drive inclusive, climate-resilient and scalable transformation in the face of the triple planetary crisis. Cities across the Andean, Eastern European and Central Asian regions are confronting the interconnected challenges of the triple planetary crisis while also managing rapid urbanization, demographic shifts and growing inequalities. Many urban areas face ageing housing stock, informal or under-serviced settlements, inefficient land use and fragmented governance, alongside significant gaps in access to basic services such as water, sanitation, energy, mobility and public space. These challenges directly affect health, equity and overall quality of life. At the same time, both regions offer valuable and complementary approaches to urban regeneration. In the Andean region, cities have advanced participatory, area-based upgrading of informal settlements, combining housing, infrastructure and social services, often grounded in strong community engagement. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, efforts focus on modernizing housing systems, improving energy efficiency, strengthening land management and upgrading infrastructure, supported by more structured planning and regulatory frameworks. Urban regeneration emerges as a critical entry point to address these challenges in an integrated way. By linking housing with basic urban services and leveraging land-based tools such as land readjustment, cities can drive more inclusive, resource-efficient and resilient development. The New Urban Agenda provides an overarching framework, emphasizing people-centered approaches, adequate housing and universal access to services. This session will facilitate cross-regional exchange, highlighting practical solutions, policy frameworks and partnerships that can scale urban regeneration efforts. It aims to identify pathways to translate policy into action and contribute to the WUF13 Baku Call to Action. Partner: CAF/ IDB, World Bank/ EBRD Moderators: UN-Habitat RoEECA and ROLAC Representative, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Plurinational State of Bolivia Representative, Ministry of Housing, City and Territory, Colombia Representative, Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan (urban development/ housing) Representative Spatial and Urban Development Agency, Georgia Representative, Bogotá District Secretariat of Habitat, Bogotá D.C., Colombia Deputy Mayor of Chisinau, Moldova/ Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic" Representative of CAF/ IDB Representative of World Bank/EBRD
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