Baku/ Ağdam  12 October 2022--  On 5 and 6 October 2022, the First Azerbaijan National Urban Forum (NUFA#1) was held in the cities of Ağdam and Baku under the theme, “Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda as engines of post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation.

It was convened by the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture (SCUPA), co-organised by UN-Habitat and ADA University. The Forum was inaugurated both by Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, and Maimunah Mohd Sharif, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat. Some 500 global, national, and local participants took part and emerging key urban challenges in Azerbaijan were discussed and international experiences in the related field showcased.

In the opening speech, Aliyev highlighted the commitment to peace and development with sustainable urbanisation being an instrument. Sharif stressed the importance of National Urban Forums as a base for prioritised national development policies and evidence-informed decision making. “Sustainable urbanization … is the docking station for all the other SDGs”. NUFA#1 was organized within the global celebrations of Urban October, a global platform to spur awareness about sustainable urbanization in the spirit of the 2022 theme “Mind the Gap - Leave No One and No Place Behind”.

NUFA#1 convened against the backdrop of urban recovery processes towards “building back better” towards sustainable urban development highlighting the importance of harnessing the localization of Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda in rebuilding greener and more inclusive cities and human settlements, creating economic opportunities alongside returning the quality of life for all to areas affected by natural and human-made emergencies.

The discussions at NUFA#1 translated into declared actions, drawing consensus on localising the New Urban Agenda (NUA) as an engine for post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation as well as a road map for accelerating sustainable development, climate action, and building peace. Particularly highlighted were the key aspects of fostering local identity through built and intangible heritage as well as demining, under the framework of good governance and strengthened partnerships. In this regard, continuous sharing of creative solutions and innovative practices is welcomed.

For more detailed information on NUFA, click here. Moreover, the event was recorded and is accessible here.