The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) will participate in the World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Organised by UN-Habitat, the forum will focus on the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities,” bringing together governments, practitioners, researchers, and civil society to advance solutions to the housing crisis.
Theme: Housing the world
The forum highlights the urgent need to address the global housing crisis and position housing as a key driver of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development. With nearly 3 billion people facing inadequate housing and over 1.1 billion living in informal settlements, WUF13 will explore integrated, context-sensitive solutions across housing systems, urban planning, climate resilience, governance, and land and tenure security.
Taking place at the midpoint of the New Urban Agenda, WUF will contribute to shaping global dialogue and inform the 2026 UN Secretary-General’s report on its implementation.
IHS events at WUF13
IHS will contribute to discussions at WUF13 by engaging with partners and stakeholders on key themes such as housing systems, inclusive urban development, and strategies for addressing informal settlements. Our participation will focus on sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and contributing to ongoing global dialogue on sustainable and resilient cities.
| Title | Type of event | In partnership with |
|---|---|---|
| Application of the 5As Principles of Adequate Housing along the House Value Chain of the National Housing Policy of India | WUF Academy | HUDCO, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs |
| Street-led Citywide Slumupgrading Training Event | WUF Academy | Claudio Acioly, IHFP, FAU, Catalytic Communities |
| From Global Agreements to Local Action Multi-Level Governance for Sustainable housing and resilient communities. | Networking Events | UNEP, UN-Habitat, ICLEI |
| Transforming informal settlements and slums | Dialogue 2 | UN-Habitat |
| Building on What People Build: Material Realities and Local Knowledge for Upgrading Informal Settlements | Masterclass | |
| From Global Commitments to Local Capacity: Using Competency Frameworks to localize urban agendas | WUF Academy Schoolyard | |
| Academia and Research Roundtable | Roundtable discussion |
Urban Expo
As part of our commitment to the New Urban Agenda, IHS will host an exhibition booth part of the Urban Expo. This year, we are highlighting our collaboration with Inform2Build, showcasing how integrated research and strategic partnerships are essential to navigating the complexities of modern urbanisation. Visitors to our booth will have the opportunity to interact with IHS experts and learn more about our ongoing initiatives in affordable housing, urban resilience and informal settlements.
Meet the IHS Delegation
- Alonso Ayala - Senior Expert in Housing and Human Settlement Planning
- Anthony Boanada-Fuchs - Head of Projects and Partnerships
- David Dodman - General Director
- Lucas Snaije - Research Officer
- Maartje van Eerd - Senior Housing and Social Development Specialist
- Mihaela Kracholova - Marketing & Communications Officer
- Pamela Duran Diaz - Senior Planning Specialis
- Paul Rabé - Lead Specialist in Urban Land Governance
- Satya Maia Patchineelam - SPARK Network Coordinator, Project Assistant
(In alphabetical order)
- More information
You can find more information on the event here.
