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Mayor Adanech Abebe Meets Azerbaijan Envoy, UN Habitat Director on Global Urban Engagement
By Chekole Alemu
Mayor Adanech Abebe Engages Azerbaijan, UN Habitat on Addis Ababa’s World Urban Forum Participation
Addis Ababa city officials, led by Mayor Adanech Abebe, held discussions with Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ruslan Nasibov, and the UN Habitat Regional Director for Africa, Oumar Sylla, focusing on the capital’s participation in the upcoming World Urban Forum to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
According to information shared by Mayor Adanech Abebe on her verified Facebook page, the talks centered on Addis Ababa’s engagement in the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), scheduled to take place from May 17 to 22, 2026, at the Baku Olympic Stadium. The forum is the United Nations’ largest global conference on sustainable urbanization and is convened by UN Habitat in partnership with the Government of Azerbaijan.
WUF13 will be held under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities,” with a strong focus on addressing the global housing crisis and advancing inclusive and sustainable urban development. The biennial forum is expected to bring together national and local governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and youth representatives to exchange best practices and policy solutions.
City officials said Addis Ababa views the forum as an important platform to showcase its recent urban development initiatives and to strengthen its international profile. The discussions also explored lessons from Baku’s experience in hosting large scale global events, particularly as Ethiopia prepares for a potential future bid to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 32.
The World Urban Forum will feature high level policy dialogues, partner led events, urban cinema, and thematic discussions that frame housing as a human right and a key driver of social and economic progress. Organizers have announced that online registration for WUF13 is currently open through UN Habitat’s Global Event Management System, while applications for partner led events will remain open until January 29, 2026.
Addis Ababa’s city administration stated that participation in global platforms such as the World Urban Forum aligns with broader efforts to position the capital as a center for sustainable growth and international diplomacy.
The WUF was established in 2001 by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. The first WUF was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002 and has been held around the world ever since.
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