Baku: 'We must change our approach to housing issues,' Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Anacl¡udia Rossbach, stated during her speech at the event titled 'Housing at the Center of Post-Crisis Recovery and Reconstruction' held within the framework of WUF13. Rossbach highlighted the need for a paradigm shift in addressing housing, emphasizing its potential to foster economic growth and community development.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Rossbach described housing as an industry with a vast value chain encompassing both large and small businesses. She argued that investing in housing could create a multiplier effect, spurring local economic development, increasing incomes, and positively impacting countries' GDP. Viewing housing as an industry and an investment is crucial in recovery processes, as funds directed toward this sector promise substantial returns.

Rossbach pointed out that funds allocated to the UN, non-governmental organizations, and international humanitarian institutions primarily focus on urgent, life-saving assistance, neglecting long-term housing provisions. She also highlighted the minimal share of housing in the financial portfolios of development banks, noting that many countries rely solely on domestic financial resources to tackle housing problems. This reliance often leads to significant challenges, especially for countries unable to establish effective domestic financing systems, resulting in dispersed populations and inadequate support.

Rossbach emphasized the importance of strengthening social capital and communities as key priorities in humanitarian planning. She noted that even small-scale support could enable communities to develop gradual and sustainable housing solutions. The role of local governments was also underscored as vital for organizing services and ensuring sustainable development through strengthened local governance structures.