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.
The global housing crisis affects over 3 billion people and is driven by interconnected challenges including affordability constraints, informality, displacement, climate risks, and unequal access to land and services. While many innovative housing solutions exist, they often remain fragmented, under-recognized, and insufficiently scaled. There is a need for a global mechanism that connects practical solutions with knowledge generation, policy dialogue, and capacity development. In response, UN-Habitat, in partnership with the Government of Azerbaijan, is establishing the Baku Urban Award as a global initiative to identify, recognize, and promote impactful housing solutions. Anchored in the World Urban Forum (WUF), the Award goes beyond recognition by serving as a platform for knowledge exchange, learning, and replication of proven practices. The official launch at WUF13 will mark the start of the first award cycle and introduce the initiative to a global audience of governments, practitioners, development partners, academia, and civil society. The launch will take the form of a high-level announcement and interactive dialogue, including a panel discussion that positions the Award within the broader global housing agenda and highlights the link between practice, knowledge, and policy. Expected Outcomes • Officially introduce the Baku Urban Award to the global urban community • Generate visibility and momentum for the first award cycle • Increase awareness of the need to scale proven housing solutions • Mobilize interest and engagement from potential applicants and partners • Strengthen collaboration around housing knowledge, practice exchange, and capacity development. Key Messages Housing solutions already exist across the world and require greater visibility, exchange, and scaling. The Baku Urban Award aims to bridge the gap between practice, knowledge, and policy uptake. The initiative goes beyond an award ceremony by establishing sustained activities focused on learning, capacity development, and dissemination. Anchoring the Award within WUF enables global visibility, outreach, and engagement through UN-Habitat's convening power and networks. The Award contributes to the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Objectives Presenting the rationale, objectives, and structure of the Award Highlighting the Award's contribution to advancing adequate housing for all and sustainable urban development Showcasing the Award's integrated approach combining recognition, knowledge generation, and capacity development Encouraging governments, organizations, and practitioners to engage with and contribute to the initiative
