Baku: The government of Azerbaijan emphasizes the importance of civil society institutions in developing sustainable and resilient cities. Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, underscored this priority during his address at the 'NGO Forum: Global Partnerships and Decision-Making' event, part of the World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13).

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Hajiyev stated that organizing the NGO Forum is crucial, as involving civil society is essential for fostering human-centered urban development. He noted that the Azerbaijan State Agency for Support to NGOs has been established to enhance the role of non-governmental organizations. The government supports NGOs by increasing their financial resources and offering training programs for institutional development and capacity building. Hajiyev emphasized the importance of NGO knowledge and experience in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.