The first meeting of the “Urban Talks” project, titled “Towards WUF13: Urbanization and Innovation,” was held at Baku State University (BSU).

BSU staff member and project manager Mirhuseyn Taghiyev delivered a presentation on the key concepts of urbanization, the stages of development of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the global significance of the World Urban Forum.

The meeting also addressed the goals and expected outcomes of the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13), highlighting its particular importance in light of its hosting in Azerbaijan. Discussions further covered BSU’s activities in the field of urbanization and sustainable urban development, as well as the main reform areas currently being implemented in the country. Participants were briefed on the WUF13 volunteer program and youth engagement opportunities and received recommendations on enhancing the role of young people in urban planning processes.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants’ thematic questions were addressed.