Housing in the Spotlight, Inclusion on the Agenda
Held from 17–22 May 2026 in Baku, the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) focused on housing within the urban agenda. With around 17 000 international participants from more than 170 countries, 580 sessions and 217 exhibitors, the Forum promoted discussion on resilient cities, climate and housing, informal settlements, crisis response, finance, and the social aspects of housing, ending with the Baku Call for Action.
Although inclusion was not a primary theme throughout the entire programme, targeted sessions and spaces fostered practical discussions on accessibility. Conversations expanded beyond just “units” to encompass an inclusive urban ecosystem: accessible, affordable housing must be coupled with inclusive infrastructure and services—such as transport, streets, public spaces, utilities, and digital access—so housing effectively facilitates participation.
The Resilient and Inclusive Cities Hub (RICH) featured several sessions as a channel for catalytic finance to strengthen local systems, scale innovations and mainstream accessibility, universal design and climate resilience in planning, housing and infrastructure.
Complementing finance, technology, and data contributions, showcased community-driven, disability-inclusive methods co-developed with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and city stakeholders, utilising open mapping, low-cost aerial imaging, and accessible datasets to inform fairer decisions. Key messages highlighted the importance of embedding inclusion in policies, tools, and investments; ensuring meaningful participation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities alongside strong local accountability; building partnerships to achieve scale; and real climate resilience and universal design as mutually reinforcing standards.
The Accessibility Pavilion provided space for exchanges and resources, on topics such as the Amman-Berlin Declaration and climate change, while a roundtable on advancing disability-inclusive urban development translated commitments into local action: localising the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in municipal policies and budgets, co-designing accessible housing and public spaces, and mobilising risk-tolerant, catalytic funding alongside inclusive smart-city solutions.
Accessibility at WUF13 was tangible: an Accessibility Help Desk, priority lines, tactile wayfinding, ramps, accessible restrooms, sign language and real‑time captioning in plenaries, quiet rooms and accessible shuttles underscored a commitment to inclusive participation.
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ was actively involved in these discussions, contributing to debates on the nexus of inclusion and urbanisation and underscoring the role of catalytic finance and policy in translating accessibility commitments into practice while maintaining local ownership.
Looking ahead, WUF13 built momentum to better connect housing, resilience, and accessibility with practical tools, catalytic finance, and community-driven data—enabling partners to localise commitments, scale inclusive solutions, and strengthen municipal capacities for cities that work for everyone. With WUF14 scheduled in Mexico, partners have a timely opportunity to make inclusion a more tangible cross-cutting focus, translating commitments into measurable targets, funded pipelines, and city-level implementation pathways.