UNECA thanks Azerbaijan for hosting WUF13 at critical time for Africa

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) expresses its gratitude to the Government of Azerbaijan for the outstanding organization of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, UNECA representative Giuseppe Tesoriere said at the regional ministerial meeting for African countries on the sidelines of WUF13, Olaylar informs.

He also described the forumchr("39")s theme, "Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities," as extremely inspiring.

He noted that the forum is taking place at a critical moment for Africachr("39")s urban development, amid rapid urbanization, growing social inequality, and increasing climate risks. Tesorière emphasized that the time to translate political commitments into action is rapidly shortening.

He emphasized that UNECA intends to continue supporting member states and partners in achieving sustainable urbanization.

"The UN Economic Commission for Africa reaffirms its continued commitment to supporting Member States and collaborating with all partners in these efforts. We stand ready to assist countries in mobilizing domestic resources, promoting data-driven urban planning, strengthening the capacity of local authorities, and providing the analytical and policy support needed to unlock the full potential of sustainable urbanization," stated the UNECA representative.

According to him, the current discussions should form the basis for identifying concrete steps to implement the commitments enshrined in the Nairobi Declaration.

"These meetings are an important milestone in shaping Africachr("39")s unified position for the high-level review of the New Urban Agenda at the UN General Assembly in July," added Giuseppe Tesoriere.