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.
How can community-led action drive housing and climate justice from the ground up? Grassroots and civil society organizations (CSOs) are on the frontlines of responding to the global housing and climate crises. Despite often being under-represented and marginalized in decision-making processes, grassroots movements are breaking down barriers and, through their demonstrated impact and constructive, scalable solutions, are helping shape local and global urban development agendas related to housing, land, and basic services. In this scenario, they play a multifaceted strategic role in generating data, advocating for and presenting alternative models and policy proposals, acting as first responders during crises, protesting, and articulating solutions in response to both individual and community issues. The global housing crisis at the center of WUF13 reflects a long-standing structural challenge rather than a sudden or isolated phenomenon. Climate impacts, rising inequality, financialization of land and housing, labor precarity, and reduced public investment increasingly intersect to deepen existing housing deficits. Addressing housing and climate justice therefore requires integrated, rights-based approaches that tackle these underlying drivers together. In line with the forum's theme, the roundtable will review the socio-economic and political role of grassroots and CSOs in local action and delivery, particularly relating to fulfilling the human right to adequate housing. With recommendations feeding directly to the WUF13 outcome document, the aim is also to reinforce the key pillars of UN-Habitat's Strategic Plan (2026-2029) that prioritises housing, land, and basic services. It is also an opportunity to connect global and multilateral processes that shape urban and climate decisions, such as WUF13, the New Urban Agenda and SDG11 reporting and COP31, highlighting the interdependence between housing and climate justice. As all WUF13 stakeholder-led sessions, this roundtable is developed through a participatory process driven by CSOs and grassroots organizations, seeking to ensure representation and diversity. Guiding questions How does the financialization of housing impact grassroots communities and civil society at large? What recommendations and regulations should be considered? What kind of policies and actions from different actors can have an impact in reducing displacement? What are recommendations from grassroots and CSOs to leverage substantial partnerships and collaboration with governments and across stakeholders? How can climate action be integrated into a broader rights-based urban agenda that also addresses poverty, inequality, labor precarity, and access to services, rather than treated as a standalone priority? Expected outcomes Recommendations and practices: on collaboration frameworks to integrate community-led initiatives into policy, especially connecting housing and climate justice. Expanded data and knowledge base: harness the role played by CSOs and grassroots in driving innovation in housing. WUF13 outcome declaration: ensuring that it adequately addresses the priorities of CSOs and grassroots. Objectives Multistakeholder collaboration: partnerships and networks are strengthened and leveraged, through substantive cross-actor dialogue, identification of shared objectives and possibilities for collaboration. Build a community of practice: on rights-based and community-led approaches and priorities to housing that will continue discussions, sharing and exchange beyond WUF13. Human rights-based priorities for adequate housing: highlight and recognize community-led approaches and priorities, and policy provisions being driven and supported by grassroots and CSOs opening lines of dialogue on how they can be supported, leveraged and integrated into policies and strategies to address the global housing and climate crises.
