Baku: UN-Habitat has outlined its strategic priorities for 2026-2029, focusing on transforming perceptions of the right to housing and affordable housing. Raina Hedeya, a representative of UN-Habitat, emphasized the need for change during the Assembly of Civil Initiatives and Civil Society Organizations at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Hedeya stressed that forced displacement should be prevented and that urban development must respect people's dignity, housing security, and human rights. She outlined the importance of public investment in affordable housing, equal access to land, regulatory frameworks to prevent displacement, and policies addressing inequality.

The strategic plan revolves around five main priorities: adequate housing, participatory governance, integrated urban transformation, partnerships and coalitions, and inclusive stakeholder participation. These priorities focus on rights-based, community-oriented, and inclusive approaches in housing and urban development.