BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. Urban development and urbanization are impossible without the active participation and partnership of civil society, Aygun Aliyeva, Executive Director of the Agency for State Support to NGOs of Azerbaijan, said during the NGO Forum on "Global Partnership and Decision-Making" held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Trend reports.
"Today's meeting holds special historical significance. For the first time in the history of the World Urban Forum, the NGO Forum has been organized as part of the official WUF program. This is not merely a symbolic event. It is a confirmation of an important reality already recognized at the international level: sustainable urban development and urbanization are impossible without the participation and partnership of civil society. We are proud that this historic first experience is taking place right here in Azerbaijan," she said.
Aliyeva noted that in recent years, Azerbaijan has become a platform for vital international initiatives and solidarity mechanisms within the civil society sphere.
"In 2025, Baku hosted the inaugural conference of the Global South NGO Platform. In the same year, the NGO Platform of the Member States of the Organization of Turkic States was established in Nakhchivan. Just a few days ago, the General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform was held within the framework of Baku Urban Week. All these events demonstrate that Azerbaijan not only hosts international events but also becomes an important international venue bringing together civil society representatives from different regions for dialogue, cooperation, and solidarity," she added.
The third day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) is underway in Baku.
On the first day, a ministerial meeting dedicated to the New Urban Agenda, a roundtable of ministers, assemblies of women and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban well-being were held. A ceremony for raising the flags of the United Nations and Azerbaijan also took place within the framework of the forum.
The second day of the forum drew attention with the first-ever Leaders Summit. High-level discussions on the global housing crisis, urbanization policy, and urban resilience were held that day. At the same time, the Mexico City pavilion was inaugurated within the framework of WUF13. The pavilion was presented as an important platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin American region and preparing for WUF14.
WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities,” the forum brings together governments, international organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development.
