Collaboration takes centre stage on Day 3 of WUF12

In Dialogue 4 on Financing Localisation and Localising Finance, experts underscored the urgent need for cities to improve access to financing to achieve the SDGs. Local financial capacities must be strengthened, experts said, with cities requiring not only new funding sources but also improved financial management and policies to support sustainable urban growth.

“I urge cities to be diligent in their accounting, procurement, and procedures and to be transparent,” stated Noraini Roslan, Mayor, Klang Royal City Council, Malaysia, highlighting that well-structured financial frameworks and empowered local governance are essential for cities to meet long-term goals.

Collaboration was another key theme, with calls for partnerships across government levels and between public and private sectors to effectively mobilize resources. These alliances could open new revenue streams, such as climate finance and capital markets, crucial for building climate resilience and supporting local budgets.

The dialogue also highlighted the importance of short- and long-term financial planning in urban development, with an emphasis on building strong data systems to enhance public financial management and creditworthiness.

Recommendations included maximizing local revenue sources, such as property taxes, and boosting access to innovative financing tools like public-private partnerships (PPPs) and climate funds. 

“The road to financing the SDGs goes through local own-source revenue […] Those are sources of revenue that localities have and can manage directly and with some level of autonomy,” noted Enrique Silva, Vice President of Programs at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

National governments were encouraged to adjust policies to support local borrowing, while multilateral organizations could provide essential technical support and facilitate knowledge-sharing. These actions aim to build a localized financial ecosystem tailored to each city’s unique needs, paving the way for sustainable, impactful urban development.

Collaboration extends beyond formal partnerships to encompass knowledge sharing. Participants can learn from the success stories of others and adapt these lessons to meet their unique needs.

In the special session on “G7 Economies Shaping Urban Futures,” a representative from Italy’s G7 Presidency shared insights from an action framework that collects national and local urban initiatives, identifies priorities, and assesses their alignment with global frameworks like the SDGs and EU Cohesion Policy Targets. 

Sandra Gizdulich, Senior Urban Expert at the Department for Cohesion Policies of the Presidency of Council of Ministers, stressed that urban policy should not be viewed as a collection of disparate sectoral policies. Instead, it should be approached as a holistic framework capable of addressing the interconnected global transitions – ecological, demographic, and digital. “Urban policy must be seen as the right dimension to address these challenges systemically,” she said, underlining the need for collaboration and sharing best practices to understand the interactions between various initiatives and their impacts.

One of the day’s highlights was a special event titled “The New Urban Agenda: Where Are We and How to Get There.” Moderated by UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, it featured former UN-Habitat Executive Directors Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka and Maimunah Mohd Sharif, whose tenures span the pre-conception, approval, and implementation phases of the New Urban Agenda (NUA).

Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka highlighted how the NUA builds on UN-Habitat’s longstanding efforts to improve human settlements, emphasizing that housing and urbanization are not merely social issues but also financial ones. “The main challenge is financing – housing is fundamentally an investment issue, making it a financial issue,” she stated. Tibaijuka also stressed the importance of setting clear, measurable indicators of success to gauge progress toward the NUA’s goals, ensuring accountability and tangible outcomes.

Maimunah Mohd Sharif reflected on leading the agency during a period marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which, while disruptive, also presented an opportunity to reassess existing urban systems and structures. “To provide immediate relief, we introduced safety nets and emergency measures during the pandemic. But why weren’t these measures put in place before?” she asked. Sharif also emphasized that urbanization should not be limited to building more infrastructure in cities but should focus on extending urban amenities and services to rural areas, fostering a more balanced approach to development.

The three leaders agreed on the significant role of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in advancing the NUA. “WUF is not a talk shop; it is a shop for concrete ideas,” Tibaijuka remarked, reflecting on the tangible impact the Forum has on shaping urban policy and action. Rossbach added that WUF has grown into a recognized platform where urban practitioners and policymakers exchange insights and collaborate on global and local solutions.
 

Today’s sessions at WUF12 also highlighted the critical importance of diverse voices and a multi-stakeholder approach for fostering inclusive and sustainable urban development, with the Women’s Roundtable, Persons with Disabilities Roundtable, and Indigenous Peoples Roundtable all taking place.

The numerous testimonials delivered throughout the day reinforced a message: cities and local communities are where meaningful action happens and where the most pressing needs arise. WUF12 serves as a platform for engaging representatives from all walks of life, creating a space to exchange strategies, share successes, and amplify unheard voices.

Elizabeth Espinosa, an indigenous women’s rights activist, stressed the importance of representing her community’s voices on a global stage. “It’s vital for the world to understand the challenges we face,” she noted.

Joe Muturi, President of Slum Dwellers International, reflected on WUF12’s role as a critical space for grassroots communities to learn from each other. “We learn from other grassroots communities about housing strategies, community engagement, and innovative solutions to common challenges,” he noted, emphasizing how shared knowledge empowers local communities to address complex housing issues.

Tomorrow, WUF12 continues with dialogues, roundtables, and partner-led events focused on diversity and collaboration, including sessions for older persons, professionals, and parliamentarians. As we approach the final day of Dialogues and Special Sessions, we will return to the central theme – home. What does it mean? What happens when it is lost? Why does everything start at home?

Stay tuned to our channels for more highlights from WUF12!