BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. A delegation led by
Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and
Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and National Coordinator
of WUF13, is attending the Second Africa Urban Forum (AUF2) held in
Nairobi, Trend
reports.
The forum, running until April 10, is hosted by the Government
of Kenya with the support of the African Union, this year’s theme
was the “Adequate Housing for All: Advancing Socio-Economic and
Environmental Transformation towards the Realization of Agenda
2063.” The event is considered one of the region’s key platforms
for discussing urban planning and sustainable urban
development.
As part of the forum, the Azerbaijani delegation participated in
high-level meetings and thematic sessions. In line with the agenda,
the head of the delegation, Anar Guliyev, in his capacity as
Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group for 2025–2026 on
the UN-Habitat Assembly resolution “Affordable Housing for All,”
delivered a Joint Statement of Azerbaijan and Somalia.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening the Public-Private
Partnership (PPP), climate and blended finance mechanisms, as well
as sustainable models that ensure housing affordability.
Anar Guliyev briefed the participants on the preparations for
the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), which will be
held in Baku on May 17-22 this year.
As part of his visit to Kenya, the Committee Chairman also held
a number of bilateral meetings with heads of delegations from other
countries and representatives of international organizations.
The meetings included discussions with Daniel Garwe, Minister of
Local Government and Public Works of the Republic of Zimbabwe;
Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development,
Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the African Union
Commission; Leonard Douglas Akwilapo, Minister for Lands, Housing,
and Human Settlements Development of Tanzania; Saeed Mahmoud Haid,
State Minister for Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing of
Somalia; Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Minister of Infrastructure of
Rwanda; Célestine Ketcha Courtes, Minister of Housing and Urban
Development of Cameroon; Chaltu San, Minister of Urban and
Infrastructure Development of Ethiopia; Nurdin Bilal Juma, Mayor of
Dar es Salaam City Council; Johnson Sakaja, Governor of Nairobi
County; Rindikiri Mugambi Murwithania, Vice Chair of Kenya’s
Parliamentary Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public
Works; Thierno-Habib Hann, CEO of the Shelter Afrique Development
Bank; and Moses Nyabanda, CEO of Equity Bank (Kenya) Limited.
The meetings underscored the positive dynamics of cooperation
between Azerbaijan and the African countries, featuring discussions
on sustainable urban development, housing policy, and expanding
collaboration among relevant institutions.
Additionally, Anar Guliyev met with Anacláudia Rossbach,
Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements
Programme (UN-HABITAT). They discussed the progress of WUF13
preparations, noting that more than 16,000 participants have
registered to participate at the Forum.
