Baku: "WUF13 is an important platform creating new opportunities in the field of international cooperation and urban development," Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Anacl¡udia Rossbach said during the official opening press conference held within the framework of WUF13, APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Rossbach highlighted the significance of the World Cities Report, which focuses on housing challenges faced by cities and countries. The report, presented at the forum, underscores the strategies employed globally to tackle these challenges. Additionally, a comprehensive report on local solutions has been developed under the Local2030 platform, uniting 14-15 UN agencies.
Rossbach emphasized the collaborative efforts with local and regional governments, the private sector, civil society, and other partners. A special platform has been established to collect experiences from various regions, serving as a dynamic resource for supporting member states.
The head of UN-Habitat pointed out that uniting partners is a key aspect of international organizations' operations in raising awareness and exchanging knowledge. This collaboration also plays a crucial role in shaping normative frameworks. The United Nations, in collaboration with member states, supports the open-ended working group on housing issues, with Azerbaijan and Somalia currently co-chairing the group. This working group, active until 2029, aims to develop normative recommendations for addressing the housing crisis.
Rossbach stressed the importance of developing policies, urban plans, and projects to combat the housing crisis. The objective is to address issues such as identifying suitable policies recommended by the UN and member states, creating appropriate urban plans, and implementing projects to resolve informal settlement problems while meeting social and environmental standards.
She noted that although the housing crisis is a global issue, countries have distinct socio-economic and cultural characteristics, necessitating tailored support. This includes building systems at the national level, developing policies, legislation, local urban planning, and establishing proper financial systems to combat the crisis effectively.