Within the framework of WUF13, the Baku Urban Planning Award has been established

The Government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) have established a new global award in the field of sustainable urban development - the Baku Urban Award.

As part of WUF13, an official presentation ceremony was held for the new international award - the Baku Urban Award, established on the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan jointly with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) with the aim of promoting and scaling up advanced urban planning solutions in the field of sustainable urban development and affordable housing.

The Baku Urban Award is being formed as a global platform aimed at the international promotion of practical urban solutions with the potential for long-term social, economic, and environmental impact.

The award will become one of the main sustainable legacies of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13). The award will not be limited to the framework of the forum but is envisioned as an international mechanism serving the long-term advancement of the global urban agenda.

The initiative envisages the integration of three key areas:

- practical solutions already being applied by urban planning professionals;

- expert knowledge and evidence-based approaches;

- integration of successful experiences into national and international policy.

Evaluation will be conducted by an independent jury composed of leading international experts in the fields of architecture, urban planning, housing provision, climate resilience, finance, and civil society. The award will serve as an open platform for participants representing all regions of the world.

The establishment of the Baku Urban Award is yet another demonstration of Azerbaijan's long-term commitment to the global urban planning and climate agenda. Initiatives implemented in this direction include hosting COP29, launching the "Multisectoral Action Pathways for Resilient and Healthy Cities (MAP)" and the "Baku Resilience Coalition" initiatives, co-chairing the UN-Habitat Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group on "Affordable Housing for All," as well as hosting WUF13 in Baku.

Azerbaijan's cooperation with UN-Habitat has been developing consistently since the establishment of the Azerbaijan National Urban Forum in 2022. Within the framework of this cooperation, joint projects in the field of urban development are being implemented. This also includes the organization of three national urban forums in the Karabakh and East Zangazur economic regions, as well as events held in Baku in 2023 on the occasion of World Habitat Day.

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