BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17. The World Urban Forum
is a mechanism for stakeholder interaction, the Executive Director
of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat),
Anaclaudia Rossbach said, Trend reports.
She made the remarks during the World Assembly of Local and
Regional Governments: Local Leadership Shaping a Renewed
Multilateralism, held within the framework of the 13th World Urban
Forum (WUF13) in Baku.
According to her, local leadership is shaping a renewed
multilateral approach within the framework of WUF13. She noted that
since this World Urban Forum focuses on housing issues, a global
portfolio of locally-driven solutions in housing policy has been
compiled.
"Thus, we have a really good compilation and systematization of
local housing practices, prepared for this forum with your
support," Rossbach said.
She emphasized that local governments are on the front lines
when it comes to housing policy.
"Because housing is expensive. Housing requires policies,
investments, and regulations that are formed at the national level.
But ultimately, it is the cities that are on the front lines," she
pointed out. "Therefore, cities face problems of informal housing,
homelessness, the housing affordability crisis, and so on. It is
very inspiring to see how, despite all the challenges and sometimes
a lack of funding and the absence of a structured framework, cities
still find solutions in the housing sector."
"My experience shows that in many cases, these coalitions and
associations then transform such solutions into national policies.
Thus, it is a process of two-way exchange," Rossbach concluded.
