#96 Urban Crossroads: WUF12 2024 Cairo Convergence To Explore Critical Ideas & Incorporate New Voices on Urban Cities & Towns

By Richard Kitheka

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The World Urban Forum (WUF), established in 2001 by the United Nations, has emerged as a dynamic ecosystem for addressing the pressing challenges of urbanization on a global scale. As the world's population continues to shift towards cities with an estimated 68% of the global population living in cities by 2050, the WUF provides a platform for policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to interact and co-create sustainable solutions to the complex emergent issues arising from rapid urban growth.

By 2035, Cairo, which will host this year’s WUF12, will be among the largest global metropolitan hubs. Other cities facing this unprecedented growth include Lagos, Kinshasa, Dares Salaam, Luanda and Greater Johannesburg. How these cities and others can navigate this veritable challenge and emerge in the tail end as sustainably transformed is the talk of this year’s forum. Scientists, urban planners and associates will converge to address the sharp effects of Africa’s dynamic urban landscape.

The WUF serves as a nexus where diverse actors, including governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and academic institutions, converge to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and build partnerships. This interconnected network of individuals and organizations fosters a synergistic environment that drives innovation and progress in urban development.

The WUF's fluid nature is evident in its ability to catalyze and create adaptations and solutions to evolving urban challenges. The forum's agenda is updated to reflect the changing needs of cities and their inhabitants. This flexibility ensures that the WUF remains relevant and effective in addressing the pressing concerns of our time.

This year’s challenges include climate change resilience, exploration of digital resilience and fostering of inclusive growth. Over 13,000 attendees from 165 nations are expected to grace the 5 day event that will host over 500 activities to reflect the vibrancy of our times.

The WUF hopes to continue playing a crucial role in facilitating the co-production of urban solutions. By bringing together diverse stakeholders in this melting pot of ideation, the forum creates a space for collaborative problem-solving and shared ownership of urban initiatives. This participatory approach helps to ensure that urban development is inclusive and responsive to the needs of all citizens.

The inaugural WUF was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002, setting the stage for a series of biennial events that have taken place in various cities around the world. These forums have since served as a catalyst for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration on urban development issues, fostering a sense of global solidarity and understanding. This is the second tome the summit is coming to Africa. Other cities that have hosted it include Barcelona, Spain (2004) ?Vancouver, Canada (2006) Habitat III Conference, Quito, Ecuador (2016) ?Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (2018) ?Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2020) and ?Bucharest, Romania (2022).

At the heart of the WUF's mission lies the recognition that urbanization, while a powerful driver of economic growth and social development, also presents significant and potentially fatal challenges if not well planned for. These challenges include housing shortages, infrastructure deficits, environmental degradation, and social inequality. The WUF provides a platform to explore these issues and identify innovative approaches to sustainable and inclusive urban development.

The diversity of perspectives in the WUF Forums ensures that the outcomes of the forum are grounded in real-world experiences and challenges. This fosters a more comprehensive understanding of urban issues and promotes collaboration across sectors and nations.

At the last WUF11 in Poland was attended by over 17,000 attendees from 158 countries. Promotion of Sustainable Urban Development was a key outcome. The forum emphasized the importance of sustainable urban development, including green infrastructure, affordable housing, and inclusive urban planning. Participants discussed best practices and shared knowledge on these topics.

The World Urban Forum (WUF), established in 2001, has played a significant role in shaping global urban development policies and practices. While quantifying the exact impact of the WUF can be challenging, several measurable outcomes, practical tools, renewed commitments and achievements towards transformative urban action have emerged since its inception.

Outcomes and Achievements:

Policy Influence: The WUF has been instrumental in influencing urban development policies at various levels. Through its platform, the WUF has facilitated the development and adoption of international agreements, guidelines, and best practices related to sustainable urbanization. For example, the New Urban Agenda, a global framework for sustainable urban development adopted in 2016, was significantly shaped by discussions and recommendations from the WUF. adopted by the United Nations in 2016 at the Habitat III Conference in Quito, Ecuador. It serves as a blueprint for achieving sustainable urbanization and improving the quality of life in cities around the world.

The New Urban Agenda is based on the recognition that urbanization in the modern day is an unavoidable reality the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) projecting that by 2050, around 68% of the world's population will be living in urban areas. This represents an increase of 2.5 billion people compared to 2018. ?

?It is this major global trend and that cities now find that they must play a crucial role in addressing a wide range of challenges, including climate change, poverty, and inequality. The New Urban Agenda continues to provide a set of principles and commitments to guide urban development efforts, focusing on:

Inclusive and equitable cities: Promoting social inclusion, gender equality, and affordable housing.        

Safe, resilient, and sustainable cities: Building cities that are resilient to disasters and climate change, while promoting sustainable practices.        

Economic prosperity: Supporting economic growth and job creation in cities.        

Cultural heritage and identity: Preserving and promoting cultural heritage in urban areas.        

Governance and partnerships: Strengthening governance and promoting partnerships between governments, businesses, and civil society organizations.        

When it comes to knowledge sharing and capacity building, the WUF has served as a crucial platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building among urban practitioners and policymakers, giving real time information to touchstone, pragmatic issues of the day.

By bringing together experts from around the world, the WUF has facilitated the exchange of ideas, best practices, and lessons learned and given light to new ideas born of informed enlightenment and effective urban development strategies.

Through fostering partnerships and collaboration, the WUF has led to the implementation of numerous urban development projects and initiatives, ranging from affordable housing programs to sustainable transportation systems around the world. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Systems promoted by WUF in cities like Bogotá, Colombia, and Curitiba, Brazil are all too familiar to anyone with a listening ear. These systems have provided efficient and affordable transportation options, reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality. The WUF has also supported the creation of cycling infrastructure.

By bringing together experts from around the world, the WUF has facilitated the exchange of ideas, best practices, and lessons learned and given light to new ideas born of informed enlightenment and effective urban development strategies.

Through fostering partnerships and collaboration, the WUF has led to the implementation of numerous urban development projects and initiatives, ranging from affordable housing programs to sustainable transportation systems around the world. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Systems promoted by WUF in cities like Bogotá, Colombia, and Curitiba, Brazil are all too familiar to anyone with a listening ear. These systems have provided efficient and affordable transportation options, reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality. The WUF has also supported the creation of cycling infrastructure, such as bike lanes and bike-sharing programs, in cities like Copenhagen, Denmark, and Amsterdam, Netherlands.h as bike lanes and bike-sharing programs, in cities like Copenhagen, Denmark, and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Adoption of the New Urban Agenda: The WUF played a pivotal role in the development and adoption of the New Urban Agenda in 2016. This global framework has provided a guiding principle for sustainable urban development and has influenced policies and practices in cities around the world.

Launch of Urban Think Tanks: The WUF has supported the establishment of Urban Think Tanks, which serve as knowledge hubs and platforms for policy dialogue on urban issues. These Think Tanks have contributed to the development of evidence-based urban policies and strategies.

Promotion of Sustainable Urbanization Initiatives: The WUF has promoted various initiatives related to sustainable urbanization, including green infrastructure, climate-resilient cities, and inclusive urban development. These initiatives have led to concrete actions and projects in cities around the world.

Increased Awareness and Engagement: The WUF has raised awareness of urban development issues and has encouraged greater public engagement in urban planning and decision-making. This has contributed to more inclusive, local-action based and participatory approaches to urban development which the world needs urgently today more than ever.

The upcoming WUF12, co-organized by the Government of Egypt and the UNHABITAT, is expected to be a major milestone in the forum's history. With at least 13,000 attendees expected from around the world, WUF12 will provide a unique opportunity to discuss the latest trends and challenges, incorporate their different voices and ideas on urban development, share best practices, and forge new working partnerships around critical conversations about the future of our cities and towns.

As the complexities of urbanization intensify, the World Urban Forum 12 emerges as a pivotal flexing nexus for fostering a global discourse on sustainable urban development. By facilitating a platform for scholarly exchange, policy dialogue, and innovative solutions, the WUF contributes significantly to shaping resilient, equitable, and locally driven urban futures. The imperative for transformative urban action is more urgent than ever, as the multifaceted challenges of climate change, social inequality, and rapid urbanization converge. @Anacláudia Rossbach #UNEP #UNHABITAT

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The writer will cover the WUF12 Forum in Cairo, Egypt.