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.

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.