The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization.
WUF was established by the United Nations in 2001 to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies and climate change.
Over the past two decades, WUF has evolved into the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. Convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the forum is a unique non-legislative platform and one of the most inclusive international gatherings on urban issues. The first WUF was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002 and has been held around the world ever since.
The WUF12 was successfully held from 4–8 November 2024 in Cairo, Egypt and is co-organized by UN-Habitat and the Government of Egypt
The Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum WUF12, convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from 4 to 8 November 2024, returning to the African continent after more than 20 years after its inception in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2002.
Read more on the World Urban Forum website!
WUF12 focused on localizing the Sustainable Development Goals, shedding light on the local actions and initiatives required to curb the current global challenges affecting the daily life of people, including unaffordable housing, rising living costs, climate change, the lack of basic services, and ongoing conflicts.
It all starts locally. The concept of localization recognizes the role of subnational governments and calls for a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach, empowering local stakeholders and fostering citizen engagement. It requires aligning actions with community priorities, recognizing the unique conditions of each locality.
It all starts together. Localizing the SDGs can empower local stakeholders, encourage citizen participation, and make sustainable development more responsive to local needs – positively impacting small communities and sprawling megacities alike.
It all starts now. WUF12 took place as calls are made to collectively address global challenges such as rising poverty and inequality, climate change, armed conflict, and the digital divide. The forum will take place shortly after the UN Summit of the Future in September 2024, roughly five years before the deadline to deliver on the SDGs, highlighting the transformative role of sustainable cities and communities within the 2030 Global Sustainable Agenda.
It all starts at home. The concept of “at home” extends beyond the physical structures that shelter us; it encompasses the cultural, social, economic, and environmental dimensions that define our communities. It is also an invitation to benefit from home values, innovations, solutions, and inspiration and initiate change from home: locally, together, and now.
Cairo hosted WUF12 at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in November 2024.
The city’s metropolitan area is the largest in Africa, the Middle East and the Arab world, and the fifteenth largest in the world. Cairo is host to the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab world as well as the world’s second oldest institution of higher learning, al-Azhar University.
We are proud to be hosting the Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum in Cairo in 2024. This is a significant milestone in our partnership with UN-Habitat. We are eager to use this event as a platform to engage in global discussions around urbanization and learn from other countries and stakeholders and continue to build sustainable and resilient cities for future generations.
