BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. Urban reconstruction must be based on the application of human-centered planning principles that go beyond basic infrastructure development, Gulshan Rzayeva, Deputy Head of the Administration of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, said at an event on peace-centered climate action held within the framework of WUF13, Trend reports.
According to Rzayeva, the process of rebuilding cities almost from scratch requires a comprehensive approach where accessibility and spatial planning form the core components.
"As the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, we view all initiatives primarily as vital steps serving the development of cities, as well as the consolidation of peace and stability in the regions where they are located," she noted.
In this regard, she highlighted the special significance of the initiative presented today, noting that its foundation was laid and introduced during the COP29 summit.
The Deputy Head of the Administration emphasized that the primary goal of the initiative is to provide support to countries affected by conflict or undergoing recovery processes.
"These countries are not only going through reconstruction and construction phases, but they also require the development of urban finance, the attraction of investments, and the assurance of community development within the urban environment," Rzayeva explained.
She stated that the initiative’s inclusive approach serves on one hand to showcase Azerbaijan's model, and on the other hand, to attract and mobilize financial resources for projects aimed at resolving these issues. At the same time, the application of standards and quality assurance mechanisms is envisioned to ensure that the projects align with the requirements of international financial institutions.
Rzayeva added that the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture is proud to participate in developing unique initiatives that serve the interests of both the Azerbaijani people and the global community, in close cooperation with other state bodies, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"I believe that along with the initiative itself, the requirements and standards to be developed under its framework will be formed together with partners and contribute to solving the development problems of the global community. Most importantly, it is about creating international platforms that cities can turn to in the future and utilize to solve their problems. I believe that this initiative, put forward at COP29 and presented at WUF13, will be further developed and promoted on other international platforms in the future," she said.
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.
