Highlights and images for 19 May 2026

“Integration” was the most prominent word at the World Urban Forum on Tuesday, as participants began discussing how to address the global housing crisis from various angles in dialogues, special sessions, and roundtable discussions

The dialogue session titled “The Global Housing Crisis: What is the Plan?” took a bird’s eye view in framing housing as a rights-based priority that requires scaling up a diversity of community-led solutions that consider diverse contexts. The discussion was aptly summarized by former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, who underscored the need for listening and for diverse approaches, because a “sustainable diet will be flavored in different ways in different places.”

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

In the dialogue session on the social and economic power of housing, participants explored how housing systems can both be a driver of economic growth and a “social equalizer,” meaning they deliver benefits to all. Many cities experience unequal growth as social benefits do not reach middle and lower-income households, creating a need to transition towards more inclusive housing strategies that deliver both economic performance and social benefits. Rafael Tuts, UN-Habitat, concluded that such a transition can be achieved, for example, by balancing market-driven with more equity-focused housing systems such as scaled up rental markets or shifting towards integrated housing systems.    

During the special session on building global coalitions for housing affordability, participants discussed how commitments can be converted to action at scale. As explained by Patrick Canagasingham, Regional Programme Division at UN-Habitat, such global housing coalitions are needed because no single institution or sector can solve the complexity of the global housing crisis on its own. Participants’ recommendations included linking housing with service provision, strengthening zoning regulations that pre-empt land speculation, and de-risking investment in affordable housing.  

In the special session on connectivity, urban reconstruction, and regional cooperation, ministers and urban consultants showcased projects to build new regional connections and regenerate urban areas, foregrounding visions of cities as platforms of technology, climate action, regional cooperation, and economic and cultural development. Azerbaijan housing and development ministers outlined their sustainability approaches and visions in reconstructing cities in post-conflict zones across economic, digital services, transportation, and energy sectors. Other recommendations included identifying and reinforcing traditional strengths and making clear choices when facing trade-offs.

In a special session on community-led housing initiatives, community project leaders and experts shared on-the-ground experiences and best practices for centering people as key actors in achieving affordable and quality housing for all. Somsook Boonyabancha, Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, urged demand-side perspectives and opening spaces for people to organize and become active contributors to housing policy. Koldo Casla, UN Special Rapporteur of the Right to Adequate Housing, urged inclusive institutional frameworks that democratically regulate property and fulfill the right to adequate housing. Mariana Gallo, World Habitat, emphasized that the core question is “not about whether these models work; it is about whether there is a political will to resource and scale them.”  

Two roundtable discussions served as fora for stakeholder groups to discuss their contributions to addressing the housing crisis. During the One UN Roundtable, representatives of UN organizations and programmes discussed ways to improve coordination and enable the UN system to support systemic and localized implementation pathways. Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Azerbaijan, said integrated solutions require UN system coordination and multi-stakeholder partnerships. UN-Habitat Executive Secretary Annacláudia Rossbach said the WUF can bring the UN system together for systemic change. Recommendations included institutionalizing multi-level governance, establishing long-term financial arrangements that bring together multilateral development banks and the private sector, and using the system of UN Resident Coordinators to support technical integration for systemic solutions and developing integrated localized strategies.   

The Local and Regional Governments Roundtable explored how local and regional governments can lead the transition towards adequate housing and resilient communities. Participants noted, among other issues, that cities and local governments are expected to deliver global goals with inadequate budgets and problematic governance arrangements, calling for long-term financial arrangements. Anacláudia Rossbach said the messages from this roundtable would inform the mid-term review of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) by the UN General Assembly in July 2026.