WUF13 Delegates Call for Urgent Action on Global Housing Crisis

Housing Affordability and Urban Resilience Dominate WUF13 Discussions

Delegates at the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) have called for urgent global action to address the worsening housing crisis affecting billions of people worldwide, warning that rising urbanisation, climate pressures, and widening inequality are placing unprecedented strain on cities and communities.

Held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from May 17 to 22, 2026, the UN-Habitat-led forum brought together government officials, urban planners, housing experts, financial institutions, civil society groups, and policymakers to discuss solutions to mounting global housing challenges. The event focused on the theme “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities.”

/ You Might Also Like /

Participants emphasised that housing affordability, inadequate infrastructure, and the expansion of informal settlements now represent critical threats to sustainable urban development and economic stability in both developed and emerging economies.

Global Housing Deficit Continues to Widen

According to data highlighted during the forum, nearly 3 billion people globally face some form of housing inadequacy, including more than 1.1 billion people living in informal settlements and over 300 million experiencing homelessness.

Delegates warned that rapid population growth and accelerating urban migration are increasing pressure on housing systems already struggling with affordability constraints, limited financing, and weak urban planning structures.

UN-Habitat officials stated that the housing crisis now extends far beyond shelter shortages, affecting public health, economic productivity, climate resilience, and social inclusion. The organisation argued that inadequate housing contributes directly to poverty, unemployment, poor sanitation, and rising inequality.

The forum also highlighted how climate change is intensifying housing vulnerability, particularly in coastal cities and low-income urban communities exposed to flooding, heatwaves, and displacement risks.

Delegates Push for Housing-Centred Urban Policies

Throughout the forum, speakers repeatedly stressed the need for governments to place housing at the centre of economic and urban policy frameworks rather than treating it as a secondary social issue.

Discussions focused on expanding affordable housing supply, improving land governance systems, increasing access to urban finance, and strengthening public-private partnerships capable of supporting large-scale housing delivery.

Participants also called for reforms to global financial systems to improve equitable access to capital for developing countries and local governments. Housing finance emerged as one of the dominant themes of WUF13, with experts arguing that limited access to long-term funding remains a major obstacle to affordable housing development worldwide.

Delegates further advocated for policies supporting land tenure security, slum upgrading, and inclusive urban planning to reduce displacement and improve living conditions in vulnerable communities.

Africa’s Housing Challenges Receive Attention

Africa’s rapidly expanding urban population featured prominently in discussions at the forum. Delegates noted that the continent faces some of the world’s fastest urban growth rates while simultaneously experiencing severe infrastructure and housing deficits.

During a high-level session focused on Africa’s urban future, officials warned that failure to address affordable housing shortages could worsen unemployment, social instability, and informal urban expansion across major African cities.

Urban development experts argued that African governments must strengthen institutional capacity, modernise land administration systems, and create investment-friendly regulatory environments to attract private capital into affordable housing projects.

Housing affordability pressures across African cities have intensified in recent years due to inflation, currency depreciation, rising construction material costs, and limited mortgage accessibility.

Climate and Housing Nexus Gains Prominence

Another major focus of WUF13 involved the growing relationship between climate resilience and urban housing systems. Delegates warned that climate change is increasingly reshaping housing vulnerability, especially in densely populated urban areas with weak infrastructure.

Forum discussions explored the need for climate-resilient housing models, disaster-resistant urban planning, and sustainable infrastructure investments capable of reducing environmental risks while supporting long-term urban growth.

Experts also highlighted the importance of integrating housing policies into broader climate adaptation frameworks, particularly in cities facing rising sea levels, drought, and extreme weather events.

The intersection between urbanisation and climate policy is expected to remain central to future international housing discussions, especially as governments seek to meet Sustainable Development Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities.

Calls for Stronger Global Coordination

The forum concluded with renewed calls for international cooperation and stronger multilateral action to tackle housing insecurity globally. Delegates backed the “Baku Call to Action,” a framework aimed at accelerating implementation of sustainable housing and urban development policies.

The outcome builds on commitments made during the previous World Urban Forum in Cairo in 2024, where delegates similarly urged urgent reforms around housing finance, local governance, and inclusive urban planning.

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach stated that housing must increasingly be viewed as a driver of resilience, inclusion, and economic transformation rather than solely a welfare concern.

Implications for Global Housing Policy

The discussions at WUF13 underscore the growing urgency surrounding urban housing policy at a time when cities worldwide are confronting escalating demographic, environmental, and economic pressures.

Analysts note that the forum’s recommendations could shape future policy frameworks involving affordable housing finance, infrastructure investment, land governance, and climate adaptation strategies.

For emerging economies, including Nigeria and other African nations, the outcomes of WUF13 may reinforce the importance of integrated housing policies capable of supporting urban resilience while reducing affordability gaps.

As urban populations continue to expand globally, delegates warned that delayed action on housing reform could deepen inequality, weaken economic productivity, and increase social instability across major cities.

The forum ultimately reinforced a central message shared throughout the week-long discussions: sustainable urban growth will depend heavily on governments’ ability to deliver safe, affordable, and resilient housing systems at scale.

READ MORE