What is the World Urban Forum?
The ninth World Urban Forum (WUF 9) is the next in a series of global conferences on urban issues. Established by the United Nations in 2001 and led by UN-Habitat, each of the previous eight conferences have focused on the most pressing issues facing the urban world, from rapid urbanization to climate change. The WUF 9 theme will be Cities 2030- Cities for All: Implementing the New Urban Agenda. The conference will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from February 7-13, 2018.
UPDATE: Individual registration for the World Urban Forum will close on Monday, January 15th at 11:59 PM (UTC +3). You can register here.
Cities 2030 - Cities for All
WUF 9 acts as a follow-up of Habitat III, a UN-Habitat conference in Quito, Ecuador at the end of October 2016, where the New Urban Agenda was officially adopted by the United Nations.
The New Urban Agenda acts as a guideline for nations to implement sustainable urban development policies. It has nine key commitments: providing basic services for all citizens; ensuring that all citizens have access to equal opportunities and face no discrimination; promoting measures that support cleaner cities; strengthening resilience in cities to reduce the risk and the impact of disasters; taking action to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; fully respecting the rights of refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons regardless of their migration status; improving connectivity and supporting innovative and green initiatives; and promoting safe, accessible and green public spaces.
As WUF 9’s theme is Cities 2030 – Cities for All, the conference’s central focus is on using the New Urban Agenda as a tool to achieve Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What it isn’t:
A conference discussing or amending the NUA or the SDGs; their parameters are already set in stone.
What it is:
A conference about where, when, and how to implement both the SDGs and the NUA on a local, national and global level.
Main Objectives:
- raise awareness of sustainable urbanization among stakeholders and constituencies, including the general public;
- improve the collective knowledge of sustainable urban development through inclusive open debates, sharing of lessons learned and the exchange of best practices and good policies; and
- increase coordination and cooperation between different stakeholders and constituencies for the advancement and implementation of sustainable urbanization.
What are networking, side and training events?
Networking events will have a duration of two hours long and should focus on strengthening partnerships, calling for new alliances or launching joint initiatives on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. They are an opportunity to share ideas and commitments in an effort to advance the sustainable urban development in cities and towns around the globe.
- The organization holding the networking event is responsible for its financing.
- It is a pre-requisite that organizers have sufficient funds to carry out the event, including own travel and accommodation, if the event is selected.
- Only one networking event per organization will be accepted for further selection process.
- The WUF Secretariat may follow-up on further details if required.
- There are no application fees.
- Evaluation of received applications will be based on the set criteria for networking events.
Access the full, word-formatted version of the Networking Event Application. (Final applications must be filled out on the WUF9 page)
Registration for Networking Events is now closed.
Side events are one hour long and should focus on concrete examples of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, such as projects, research, data, etc. They are an opportunity to share data, knowledge and initiatives in an effort to advance the sustainable urban development in cities and towns around the globe.
- The organization holding the side event is responsible for its financing.
- It is a pre-requisite that organizers have sufficient funds to carry out the event, including own travel and accommodation, if the event is selected.
- Only one side event per organization will be accepted for further selection process.
- The WUF Secretariat may follow-up on further details if required.
- There are no application fees.
- Evaluation of received applications will be based on the set criteria for side events.
Access the full, word-formatted version of the Side Event Application. (Final applications must be filled out on the WUF9 page)
Registration for Side Events is now closed.
Training events should focus on developing skills and knowledge of the WUF9 participants and targeted audiences, by providing “how to” approach to development challenges with innovative tools, methodologies and instruments to support the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The organization holding the training event is responsible for its financing.
- It is a pre-requisite that organizers have sufficient funds to carry out the event, including own travel and accommodation, if the event is selected.
- Only one training event per organization will be accepted for further selection process.
- There are no application fees.
- The WUF Secretariat may contact you on further details as required.
Access the full, word-formatted version of the Training Event Application. (Final applications must be filled out on the WUF9 page)
Registration for Training Events is now closed.
Schedule of Events
IHC Global has compiled a schedule of our own, our members, and other U.S.-based organizations’ events for the World Urban Forum. Please feel free to take a peek!
WUF Event List- U.S. Based and IHC Global Member Organizations
Attending the World Urban Forum? Share your plans with us!
Get In Touch!
As IHC Global prepares to attend the World Urban Forum, we want to hear about your plans and events, as well as keep you informed about ours! We will in turn share your plans with US Government representatives, as well as our network and coalition. Take the survey below to tell us about your WUF program.
Work with us!
Let us know if your organization is interested in collaborating with us at WUF, and in what form and subject area.