WUF13 features SPECA Forum of Cities
Baku, May 20, AZERTAC
The United Nations Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Cities Forum was held in Baku as part of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
The forum, on the theme “Housing Solutions for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures”, brought together city governments, ministries, and international partners in Baku to establish regional urban cooperation and advance the global urban agenda through multilateral policy dialogue.
Anar Guliyev, WUF13 National Coordinator, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, highlighted the country’s favorable geographical, noting that major transport corridors connecting the East and the West pass directly through Azerbaijan.
Anar Guliyev mentioned that the SPECA Forum of Cities reflects a common understanding that the challenges facing our cities require stronger regional collaboration, practical partnerships, and constant dialogue between local and national authorities.
“Housing is about dignity, opportunity, security, and quality of life. It is about ensuring that our cities remain inclusive, resilient, and sustainable for present and future generations,” the WUF13 National Coordinator underlined.
Deputy Minister of Economy Samad Bashirli described Baku’s hosting of WUF13 as a landmark event for Azerbaijan. The Deputy Minister underscored the importance of the SPECA Forum of Cities playing the role of a permanent platform for regional cooperation.
Other speakers at the event included, Dmitry Mariyasin, Deputy Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Rafael Tuts, Director of the Global Solutions Division of UN-Habitat), and Curt Garrigan, Chief of the Sustainable Urban Development Section for the Environment and Development Division of UN ESCAP.
A document on the accession of the city of Almaty to the “Letter of Intent to Establish the SPECA Climate Smart Cities Forum”, which was signed during the COP29 conference in Baku, was inked as part of the Forum.
Initiated during COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2024, and founded by six cities - Almaty, Arkadag, Bishkek, Dushanbe, Ganja, and Samarkand - the Forum reflects a shared conviction that collaborative action among cities can unlock transformative outcomes that no single city could achieve alone.
Conceived as a standing mechanism for policy exchange and sustained engagement with multilateral processes, including the World Urban Forum, the UN climate negotiations, and the broader UN-Habitat normative agenda, the SPECA Forum of Cities places access to affordable, climate-resilient, and energy-efficient housing at the centre of its founding mandate.
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