From Global Agendas to Local Action - Leveraging Multi-level Urban Forum for Resilient Housing Systems

Multi-level Urban Fora are convened in UN Member States as national and sub-national platforms that are vertically aligned with the World Urban Forum (WUF) and the global urban agenda, while also benefiting from stronger horizontal alignment and exchange among themselves. Experience from urban fora held in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Serbia and Türkiye demonstrates that these platforms serve as critical mechanisms for translating global commitments into nationally owned policy dialogue, action frameworks and implementation pathways. National Urban Fora play a central role in advancing and operationalising National Urban Policies (NUPs), providing structured spaces to review progress, identify priorities and articulate nationally declared actions. They also function as key mobilisation platforms, preparing and engaging national delegations to participate in WUFs during alternating years. This cyclical engagement enables countries to share experiences, draw inspiration from international good practices, and sustain momentum for national urban development and reform between global forums. Housing, as one of the central themes of WUF13, has featured prominently in recent National Urban Fora across several countries. Housing directly relates to SDG 11, particularly target 11.1, and contributes to the integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The discussions are further anchored in the New Urban Agenda, which provides a shared global policy framework referenced by partners and participants across national and international fora. Through these processes, both common challenges and diverse national experiences are identified, fostering peer learning and policy coherence. The event will be structured around three main components: Short presentations on National Urban Fora in Georgia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Serbia and the Marmara Urban Forum (Türkiye), highlighting housing-related priorities and policy responses; A moderated dialogue among partners on housing challenges, solutions and the role of urban fora in shaping and advancing policy action; An interactive discussion with the audience, including questions, reflections and exchanges building on the preceding sessions. Building on accumulated knowledge and experience from national and regional urban fora, the event will strengthen cooperation among partners, expand peer networks, and provide a platform for collective learning and alignment among countries.