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Putting stakeholders at the heart of WUF13

UN-Habitat is strengthening its long-standing commitment to inclusive partner engagement through a new initiative: the Global Stakeholder Dialogue series. While the World Urban Forum (WUF) has always been a platform “by partners, for partners”, this initiative brings a deeper level of exchange, allowing constituencies to speak directly with UN-Habitat’s leadership and help shape the wider urban agenda for 2026.

For more than two decades, WUF has been shaped by its partners, with stakeholders contributing to concept notes, roundtables and assemblies, ensuring that WUF reflects local priorities and global realities. 

The Global Stakeholder Dialogues build on this foundation. They bring together local and regional governments, civil society, grassroots groups, youth, women, persons with disabilities, academia, professionals and the private sector to share priorities, discuss emerging trends, and shape the Forum’s themes, sessions and outcomes.

Insights from the November Dialogue

The second Global Stakeholder Dialogue, held on 18 November 2025, convened more than 200 participants following an initial dialogue and 10 stakeholder group kick-off sessions earlier in the year.

Discussions reiterated a clear message: housing must remain central to the global urban agenda. Participants highlighted the need to close long-standing gaps between policy and implementation, strengthen local financing, and ensure that climate resilience, basic services and secure tenure sit at the heart of housing strategies. Many also underscored the importance of locally generated data, community-led action, and inclusive approaches that reflect the experiences of youth, women, persons with disabilities and people living in informal settlements.

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach (right) engaging with stakeholders during the second Global Stakeholder Dialogue UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach (right) engaging with stakeholders during the second Global Stakeholder Dialogue

What happens next

These insights — along with the earlier stakeholder kick-off consultations — will directly inform the design of WUF13 assemblies and roundtables, as well as the development of the Baku Call to Action. They also contribute to preparations for the 2026 mid-term review of the New Urban Agenda and the global review of SDG 11.

These dialogues also mark the beginning of a longer-term process: strengthening global, regional and local stakeholder engagement far beyond WUF13.

Join the next dialogues

More Global Stakeholder Dialogues will take place in early 2026. Stakeholders interested in joining future sessions are encouraged to follow WUF13 updates on the website, subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected via social media.

WUF13