BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – The 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), attended by His Majesty the King, concluded yesterday with a strong call for renewed global commitment to tackling the housing crisis.
A central message of the Baku Call To Action document containing key recommendation from the Forum, is that housing must not be viewed merely as the construction of homes. Instead, it calls for integrated housing systems that are closely linked to land, infrastructure, transport, public services and economic opportunity.
The King was accompanied to the Forum by Inkhosikati LaMashwama and Cabinet ministers drawn from various ministries. The ministers maintained a demanding schedule throughout the week, engaging with stakeholders and signing key cooperation agreements.
Among those present were: Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Pholile Shakantu; Natural Resources and Energy Minister Prince Lonkhokhela; Commerce, Industry and Trade Minister Manqoba Khumalo; Information, Communication and Technology Minister Savannah Maziya; Housing and Urban Development Minister Apollo Maphalala; Tinkhundla Administration and Development Minister Sikhumbuzo Dlamini; and Home Affairs Minister Princess Lindiwe.
The delegation also included principal secretaries, CEOs of municipalities, the Eswatini National Petroleum Agency CEO and her team, as well as the standard entourage that accompanies His Majesty.
The Baku Call to Action was developed through an extensive and inclusive consultation process. It captures the key priorities and recommendations that emerged from discussions at WUF13 and in the months leading up to the Forum.
With more than 57,000 participants, including over 3,000 online from 182 countries, alongside input from local governments, grassroots organisations, civil society, businesses, researchers and practitioners, the document reflects one of the most diverse stakeholder engagement exercises in the Forum’s history.
It provides a roadmap for collective responsibility and stronger collaboration in addressing housing challenges across different contexts. Noting that an estimated 2.8 billion people worldwide live in inadequate housing, the document stresses the urgent need for stronger action at all levels of government to ease mounting pressures on housing systems.
During WUF13, Baku served as a global meeting place for more than 58,000 voices exchanging knowledge and ideas on how to house the world and build safe, resilient cities and communities. These conversations culminated in the Baku Call to Action.
Discussions throughout the Forum repeatedly emphasised that the housing crisis is driven by interconnected pressures, including rising costs, land speculation, displacement, weak governance and climate change impacts. The Baku Call to Action asserts that these challenges require moving beyond fragmented approaches towards integrated, people-centred solutions.
The document also places strong emphasis on the link between housing and climate change. It highlights that communities facing the greatest housing insecurity are often the same ones most vulnerable to climate risks such as floods, extreme heat and environmental degradation.
The Call to Action urges greater investment in climate-resilient housing through measures including nature-based solutions, the upgrading and retrofitting of existing stock, community-led initiatives and improved disaster preparedness.
Beyond identifying problems, the document focuses heavily on implementation and shared responsibility. It calls for stronger multi-level governance, innovative financing mechanisms, better access to data, enhanced support for local governments, and greater opportunities for communities to develop solutions on the ground.
As discussions at WUF13 made clear, many practical solutions are already being pioneered by cities, communities and partners worldwide. The Baku Call to Action aims to consolidate these experiences and translate them into sustained collective action beyond the Forum.
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