UN-HABITAT: WUF13 - Call for housing solutions

UN-Habitat is inviting submissions of practical, proven and impactful housing solutions to be featured at the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan. As part of WUF13, a new platform – the World Urban Forum Practices Hub – will be launched to highlight effective approaches that advance adequate housing in all its dimensions, including affordability, inclusivity, resilience, and security of tenure.

This call is open to all stakeholders, including national, regional and local governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector. Selected housing practices will gain international visibility and contribute to global knowledge-sharing and action for sustainable urban development.

Submissions are open until 31 August 2025. More information and the submission form are available here.

Addressing urgent housing challenges

Around the world, cities are grappling with rising housing costs, growing informal settlements, and increasing vulnerability to climate-related disasters. The global housing crisis requires practical and scalable solutions that can be adapted and implemented across diverse urban contexts.

To help meet this need, the World Urban Forum Practices Hub will offer a space for showcasing and exchanging initiatives that are delivering results on the ground. The initiative reflects WUF’s evolving role as a platform not only for dialogue, but also for peer learning, solution exchange, and actionable outcomes aligned with the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities.

What makes a strong submission?

Submissions should be implemented initiatives that demonstrate measurable impact, the potential to be replicated or scaled, and relevance to key housing issues such as affordability, resilience, or inclusion.

Opportunities for global recognition

Selected practices may be featured at the WUF13 Practices Hub in Baku and in key UN-Habitat publications and platforms, including the World Cities Report 2026, Regional State of Cities Reports, and the Housing Knowledge Platform.

About the World Urban Forum

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001 through resolution 56/206, the World Urban Forum is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. The twelfth session, held in Cairo in 2024, drew over 25,000 participants from 182 countries and concluded with the Cairo Call to Action. WUF13 will continue this momentum by placing a special focus on practical solutions that are transforming housing systems around the world.

For any inquiries, contact: unhabitat-housingpractices@un.org. Please note that UN-Habitat will not fund participation in WUF13 or cover travel-related expenses for selected submissions.

*(Republished from UN-Habitat website)