Highlights and images for 4 November 2024

As participants filled the cavernous spaces of the Egypt International Exhibition Center on the first day of the World Urban Forum’s 12th session (WUF12), speakers reminded everyone that this forum is special as it marks several milestones. WUF12 marks a return of the forum to the African continent after 20 years, and is the first major UN event to take place after the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Pact for the Future in September 2024. As such, it provides renewed impetus for implementation of global agreements, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). WUF12 is also the largest ever forum, with over 37,000 registered participants from 182 countries, and more than 600 events on its agenda.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

Organized on the theme “It all starts at home: Local action for sustainable cities and communities,” WUF12 began with a Joint Opening of the Assemblies—stakeholder groups of Local and Regional Governments; Grassroot Organizations; Business; Women; and Children and Youth.

Nubian singer Nesma Herky welcomed participants with haunting melodies. Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, Egypt, stated that gender equality, particularly the elimination of obstacles facing women, is paramount to achieving the SDGs at the local level. Kalpana Viswanath, Founder and CEO of Safetipin, said strong, violence-free homes support communities and cities that are resilient and inclusive, noting women carry most of the burden of caring for the young and the elderly.

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach drew attention to the need for localizing action on the SDGs, and to address the housing crisis, climate challenges, and ongoing conflicts around the world.

After the opening, the five Assemblies met in parallel. Stakeholders highlighted the need to upscale community-led projects that have proven successful, and for governments and development partners to ensure that funding devolves to local communities for the co-creation of projects that truly meet local needs.

At lunchtime, ahead of the formal opening of WUF12, Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, addressed the press, together with Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, and Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities. They drew attention to Egypt’s rich cultural heritage and Cairo’s decentralization efforts. Rossbach noted that WUF12 follows on from Cairo Urban Week, which focused on the links between culture and heritage, noting that “Culture can give back to us in terms of social capital and economic development.”

High-level speakers from Yemen, Sudan, and the State of Palestine then addressed audiences in a packed opening ceremony that afternoon. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, noted that WUF12 comes at a time of crises and wars. He called for mobilizing political will and intensifying efforts to provide an immediate response to conflicts, halt destruction, renovate slums and unplanned cities, support poor communities, develop new projects to provide housing for all, and achieve the local goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In closing, he called for all stakeholders to help make WUF12 a major step towards implementing the New Urban Agenda.