The new global Baku Urban Award has been established by the Government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
This was reported to “Elchi” by the WUF13 Azerbaijan Operations Company.
It was stated that the Government of Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat are establishing a new global award in the field of sustainable urban development – the Baku Urban Award:
“Within the framework of WUF13, the official presentation ceremony of the new international award – the Baku Urban Award, established jointly with the UN-Habitat at the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the aim of promoting and scaling up advanced urban planning solutions in the field of sustainable urban development and affordable housing, has been held.”
The Baku Urban Award is being formed as a global platform aimed at promoting practical urban solutions with long-term social, economic, and environmental impact potential at the international level.
The award will be one of the main lasting legacies of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13). The award is intended as an international mechanism that will not be limited to the framework of the Forum, but will serve the long-term promotion of the global urban agenda.
The initiative involves combining three main directions:
“Practical solutions already implemented by urban planning experts;
expert knowledge and scientifically grounded approaches;
integration of successful practices into national and international policy.”
Evaluation will be carried out by an independent jury consisting of leading international experts in the fields of architecture, urban planning, housing provision, climate resilience, finance, and civil society. The award will be an open platform for participants representing all regions of the world.
The establishment of the Baku Urban Award is the next manifestation of Azerbaijan’s long-term commitment to the global urban and climate agenda. Initiatives implemented in this direction include hosting COP29, putting forward the “Multisectoral Action Pathways (MAP) for Resilient and Healthy Cities” and “Baku Sustainability Coalition” initiatives, co-chairing the UN-Habitat Open Intergovernmental Working Group on “Affordable Housing for All”, as well as Baku hosting WUF13.
Azerbaijan’s cooperation with UN-Habitat has been developing consistently since the establishment of the Azerbaijan National Urban Forum in 2022. Within the framework of this cooperation, joint projects are being implemented in the field of urban development. This also includes the organization of three National Urban Forums in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions, as well as events held in Baku on the occasion of World Habitat Day in 2023.