New york: Azerbaijan's experience in affordable housing was showcased at the World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13) in Baku, emphasizing the crucial role of housing in sustainable development. Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, highlighted this during a multi-stakeholder panel at the High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Guliyev stressed that the Baku Call to Action underlined the importance of localized and people-led approaches in moving from global commitments to tangible local impacts. He outlined that a comprehensive approach is needed to accelerate access to affordable housing, involving integrated systems of housing supply, land policy, accessible finance, regulation, and territorial planning.

Guliyev pointed out that Azerbaijan's strategy involves diverse, mutually reinforcing policy and financing instruments. Since the establishment of the State Housing Development Agency (MIDA) in 2016, Azerbaijan has successfully implemented 18 residential projects, delivering around 14,000 apartments. A significant 70 percent of homeowners are under the age of 35, benefiting from preferential mortgage programs and a rent-to-own mechanism that offer affordable pathways to housing.

The discussion at the UN panel highlighted Azerbaijan's model as a practical example of how integrated housing policies can contribute to building safe and resilient cities and communities, a core theme of WUF13.