The Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) provided a platform for UNITAC to engage with city leaders, practitioners, researchers and partners from around the world. Held in Baku, Azerbaijan, the event brought together over 57,000 urban stakeholders from around the world to advance housing solutions towards safer and more resilient cities and communities.
Across panel discussions, capacity-building activities, interactive tool demonstrations, bilateral meetings and high-level engagements, UNITAC showcased how people-centred urban innovation can help cities address housing challenges and strengthen resilience and sustainability. The team shared practical tools, locally driven approaches and inclusive governance models that contribute to the global call for adequate housing, while reinforcing partnerships that will continue beyond the forum. In total, UNITAC organized and co-organized five partner-led events, conducted a training session at the WUF Academy campus, and contributed to a range of high-level dialogues and panels.
Advancing dialogue and knowledge exchange
Across the sessions, a common message emerged: addressing the global housing challenge requires not only better data, but the ability to translate data into actionable, people-centred solutions.
Discussions highlighted how GeoAI and spatial analysis can support monitoring progress on housing targets, including SDG 11.1.1, while tools such as the Building and Establishment Automated Mapper (BEAM) demonstrate how informal settlements can be mapped more effectively to inform planning and service delivery. At the same time, the discussions reinforced the importance of ethical AI practices, inclusive data governance and local capacity development to ensure that digital transformation benefits communities on the ground.
A dedicated training for local government leaders further underscored that “smart” cities are not defined by technology alone, but by their ability to improve quality of life. The conversations emphasized that digital solutions must be grounded in local realities, supported by strong governance frameworks, and paired with investments in municipal capacity, particularly in data collection and use.
A playful space to explore housing tools and data
At the Urban Playground, a space co-curated by UNITAC in partnership with the Urban Lab, visitors engaged directly with UNITAC tools through live demonstrations and participatory activities designed to make complex urban challenges tangible and accessible. Across multiple daily sessions, the UNITAC team showcased a range of digital solutions for improving adequate housing, enhancing urban resilience and recovery, and improving service delivery includingBEAM, the Urban Recovery Planning System (URPS), the Digital Job Card, GioMap 2.0 and the Digital Water App. Visitors learned about the contexts in which these tools were developed, interacted with them in real time, and explored how they could be adapted to their own cities.
The space also invited visitors to engage through playful, hands-on activities. An analogue data puzzle challenged participants to assemble housing-related datasets, while an interactive wall encouraged reflections on what adequate housing means by allowing visitors to share and prioritize their ideas. A “Greetings from WUF13” postcard, featuring a customizable housing dataset, offered an additional creative way to connect data with personal perspectives.
Through AOVI, UNITAC’s tool for real-time digital participation, visitors shared perspectives, experiences and feedback on housing challenges in their cities, the types of data needed to address them, and their visions for more inclusive and resilient urban futures.
Over the course of the week, UNITAC also engaged in a series of networking events and bilateral meetings with national and local governments, funding partners, academia and international organizations, strengthening existing collaborations and exploring new opportunities for joint action.
A high-level moment at the Urban Playground
A key highlight of the forum was the visit of the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General to the Urban Playground. Accompanied by the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, the delegation received a demonstration of selected UNITAC tools. UNITAC first presented BEAM, an AI-powered solution supporting the mapping of informal settlements and addressing the urgent need for adequate housing and improved land use in rapidly growing cities. This was followed by the Digital Water App, a mobile-first solution designed to enhance access to water services for vulnerable communities in Hargeisa.
Looking ahead: the road to Mexico
As UNITAC embarks on the road to Mexico, where the next World Urban Forum will take place, the exchanges and partnerships forged in Baku will continue to shape its work. Building on the momentum of WUF13, UNITAC will further advance urban innovation, people-centred strategies and capacity building activities that support cities in addressing the global housing crisis and build safer and more resilient cities and communities.