BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – His Majesty King Mswati III has challenged members of the United Nations to commit to solutions that put people at the centre of urban development.
Addressing the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) held under the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities” held in the capital Baku, the King described adequate housing as one of the defining responsibilities of our time.
He warned that billions of people still face the harsh realities of inadequate housing, rapid urbanisation, climate disasters, poverty and strained infrastructure.
“These challenges transcend regions and levels of development. They affect both developed and developing nations. At the centre is the human being,” he said.
He emphasised that housing is more than concrete and steel, reminding delegates that it represents dignity, safety, stability and hope and that a home is the foundation for strong families and resilient communities.
“A truly resilient city is measured not by the height of its skyscrapers, but by its ability to protect and empower its people, especially the most vulnerable,” he said.
His Majesty’s central appeal to the forum was to have debates on the future of cities to be grounded in real, workable measures that can be implemented at scale.
“As we deliberate during this forum, let us commit to practical solutions and renewed determination to build inclusive, resilient, safe and sustainable cities and communities for all. Let us act not only for our generation, but for those who will inherit the decisions we make today,” he said.
He called for stronger cooperation and innovative partnerships across governments, the private sector, civil society and communities, insisting that no country can tackle urbanisation, climate change and housing insecurity in isolation.
“The scale of these challenges demands stronger cooperation and innovative partnerships,” he said, as he welcomed the outcomes of the Africa Urban Forum, particularly the declarations from Addis Ababa in 2024 and Nairobi in 2026, and reaffirming Eswatini’s full support for UN‑Habitat and its leadership in implementing the New Urban Agenda, in partnership with the African Union and UNECA.
The King pushed for concrete investment choices that match these ambitions, saying countries must invest in renewable energy, green infrastructure, climate‑resilient settlements, smart technologies and sustainable construction methods, while ensuring we always keep people at the centre.
However, he cautioned that the global energy transition must be managed carefully to sustain development. “As we invest in new sources of power, we must find a balance between renewable energy and traditional sources of electricity to ensure sustainable development for our economies,” he said.
His Majesty noted that a single test for the forum’s success, is whether its outcomes translate into improved lives for ordinary people.
“Development must uplift human dignity and improve the quality of life for all people,” he said. The practical solutions he called for are, in his view, the only way to ensure that the lofty commitments made in Baku are felt in the homes, streets and communities where billions still wait for the promise of safe, decent shelter and resilient cities to be fulfilled.
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