Dialogue 1 - The Global Housing Crisis: What is the Plan? (WUF13)

 The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 17 to 22 May 2026. The theme of WUF13 is: Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.

How do we turn solutions into systems that can truly house the world?

The world is urbanizing fast and the pressures on cities are mounting. Today, more than half of the world's population - approximately 4.4 billion people, (about 57 percent of the global population) - lives in urban areas. Urbanization brings both prosperity and challenges. Globally, inequality, social exclusion and inequitable service provision remain significant in cities in both developing and developed economies. The housing crisis continues to escalate, reflecting persistent and systemic inequality in accessing safe and secure housing. Over 2.8 billion people live in conditions of housing inadequacy, including 1.1 billion in informal settlements and slums, and more than 300 million experiencing absolute homelessness.

Adequate housing entails creating environments that foster health, safety, and opportunities for All. Accordingly, addressing this housing crisis requires recognizing, protecting, and fulfilling the human right to adequate housing also ensuring the recognition and protection of the social and environmental function of land. This is all the more urgent for the next decade of implementation of the New Urban Agenda to 2036.

Guiding questions

What are the most promising opportunities shaping progress towards adequate housing?
How are governments, the private sector, and non-profits developing long-term housing strategies that balance market efficiency, affordability and inclusion? 

Which measures have proven effective and under what conditions?
What are the essential actions needed to advance adequate housing for all in the next decade of implementation of the New Urban Agenda to 2036?

Expected outcomes

This dialogue is intended to catalyze actionable strategies and collaborative frameworks among stakeholders towards addressing the complexities of global housing and urbanization challenges, with strong emphasis on equity, sustainability, and resilience. The dialogue will

(i) Elevate adequate housing as a political, economic, and rights-based priority;

(ii) Strengthen interaction between governments, communities, International Financial Institutions, and the private sector; and

(iii) Generate momentum for scaling community-led, inclusive housing approaches through concrete institutional and partnership commitments.

Attendees will learn what needs to change in practice to advance adequate housing, informed by practical insights that participants can adopt in, including how public policy, finance, design, and community efforts can align to address housing inadequacy.Objectives

This High-Level Dialogue convenes political leaders, global experts, practitioners and community representatives to:

1. Reflect on how practical and collaborative pathways to adequate housing can be advanced to ensure housing systems deliver more inclusive outcomes.

2. Explore practical insights and local innovations that demonstrate scalable and inclusive approaches, including how public policy, finance, design, and community leadership can better align to address housing inadequacy; and

3. Examine policy choices, institutional roles, and partnership models towards advancing adequate housing on a scale.View less
Related Sites and Do

Related Sites and Documents: World Urban Forum Website & Programme.

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