Fifth Day of WUF13: Housing Affordability, Urban Reconstruction and Infrastructure Financing

The fifth day of the World Urban Forum WUF13 in Baku focused on the search for practical solutions to the global housing crisis, sustainable urban recovery and the financing of city infrastructure. While political statements and climate discussions dominated the previous days of the forum, the debate on May 21 shifted toward implementation mechanisms — from affordable housing models to transit-oriented development and the reconstruction of post-conflict territories.

The forum, jointly organized by the government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-Habitat, concentrated on the central theme of WUF13 — “Housing the World: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Communities.” According to UN-Habitat, around 3.4 billion people worldwide lack access to adequate housing, while more than 1.1 billion people live in informal settlements and slums.

One of the key themes of the fifth day was the financing of social and affordable housing. During a specialized panel in Baku, representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank, international financial institutions and urban development experts discussed ways to attract investment into sustainable housing construction amid the growing global housing shortage. Forum participants noted that traditional financing models are no longer capable of covering the scale of rapidly expanding urban needs.

At the same time, significant attention was devoted to the reconstruction of cities after conflicts and natural disasters. Separate sessions examined models for rebuilding urban environments, preserving cultural heritage and integrating sustainability standards into post-war construction projects. Representatives of international organizations stressed that urban recovery should not be limited to the physical construction of housing, but must also include job creation, public spaces and transport infrastructure.

Youth participation and the role of civil society in sustainable urban development also occupied an important place in the discussions. Forum panels highlighted local community projects, neighborhood improvement initiatives and the involvement of young people in urban decision-making processes. Representatives of UN-Habitat warned that by 2050 nearly 70 percent of the world’s population will live in cities, increasing pressure on infrastructure and housing systems.

Another focus of the fifth day was transit-oriented urban planning. Experts from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and other countries discussed the development of urban areas around transport hubs as a way to reduce road congestion, lower emissions and improve housing accessibility.

Against the backdrop of ongoing discussions in Baku, international experts noted that WUF13 is gradually becoming one of the world’s leading platforms for debates on urbanization, comparable in significance for urban development to climate summits for environmental policy. The forum also hosted the presentation of the World Cities Report 2026, which highlighted the growing global housing crisis amid climate change, migration and accelerating urbanization.

Despite the scale of discussions and dozens of initiatives presented during the forum, participants acknowledged that fundamental problems remain unresolved. Even after five days of negotiations in Baku, the shortage of affordable housing, the growth of informal settlements and the lack of financing continue to remain among the most serious challenges facing global urbanization.