UN-Habitat invites member states and all stakeholders to share successful and impactful housing practices for global recognition at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13). As the global housing crisis deepens, the need for practical, scalable solutions to advance the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and SDG 11, has never been more urgent. This call aims to amplify proven initiatives and leverage WUF 13 as a platform to inspire concrete actions for adequate housing for all through peer learning and knowledge sharing.

Why WUF 13?

The United Nations General Assembly, through resolution 56/206 (2001), designated WUF as a non-legislative platform where experts from around the world can exchange views on sustainable urban development. The 12th session of WUF attracted over 25,000 participants from 182 countries and concluded with the Cairo Call to Action. WUF 13 will spotlight housing solutions and innovations that are driving urban transformation.

Why submit? 

  • Gain global visibility for your housing solutions.
  • Shape policy discussions and contribute to global housing frameworks.
  • Showcase your expertise and the success of your initiatives to a broad audience.
  • Expand your network by connecting with practitioners, policymakers and experts in the field.

What we are looking for:

We invite practical, proven, and impactful initiatives that drive progress toward adequate housing for all. Submissions are open to Member States and all stakeholders and should clearly demonstrate:

  • Evidence of change and impact
  • Verifiable implementation
  • Potential for learning, replication, or scale up.

Where your practice might be featured:

Depending on relevance, quality, and alignment with the needs of each initiative, selected practices may be featured in one or more of the following platforms:

  • World Urban Forum Practices Hub – A new space at WUF13 for exchanging practical solutions and fostering peer learning.
  • World Cities Report 2026 – UN-Habitat’s flagship report showcasing real-world housing solutions to be released at WUF13.
  • Regional State of Cities Reports - In-depth reports for Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Arab and Europe, offering valuable insights for urban development based on regional contexts.
  • The Housing Knowledge Platform – A global repository informing Member States and stakeholders to guide housing policy, in line with Resolution HSP/HA.2/Res.7.

Important Information: Please note that UN-Habitat will not sponsor participation in WUF and will not cover travel expenses for selected submissions.

If you have a successful housing solution that can create real change and inspire action globally, we invite you to submit it using this form.

The deadline for submission of housing practices is 31 August 2025. 

For more information, please have a look at the FAQ here or write to unhabitat-housingpractices@un.org