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.
To showcase and exchange cross-regional practices that position housing as a central entry point for crisis response, recovery, and resilience, and to identify scalable approaches that bridge humanitarian action with medium to long-term urban development. Across regions affected by conflict, displacement, and climate-related risks, housing has emerged as a central pillar of effective crisis response and long-term recovery. Beyond the immediate provision of shelter, housing plays a critical role in restoring dignity, enabling safe return, fostering social cohesion, and anchoring sustainable urban development. This cross-regional Arena event brings together experiences from the Arab States, Eastern Europe (Azerbaijan), and Latin America and the Caribbean to examine how housing can be operationalized as a core component of crisis response. While each region faces distinct challenges, they share a common need to move beyond short-term humanitarian assistance toward integrated, inclusive, and resilient housing solutions. The session aligns with the global strategy advanced by UN-Habitat on placing housing at the center of sustainable urban recovery and resilience-building, particularly in fragile and post-crisis contexts as articulated in the 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. Moderator: Anna Soave, Head of Country programme in Azerbaijan Speaker: ROAS: Dr. Maher Johan, Deputy Minister of Planning, Iraq Representatives Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) ROEECA: Representatives from regional, national and local governments (including Azerbaijan and participating municipalities) ROLAC: Ministry of Housing, Cities and Territories of Colombia, Ms. Helga Rivas Secretary General of SISCA-SICA (Central American Social Integration Secretariat - Central American Integration System), Ms. Ana Leticia Aguila Mayor of Cuenca, Ecuador, Mr. Cristian Zamora (TBC)
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