The WUF is the world's leading forum on urban issues such as rapid urbanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies, and climate change policies. First held in 2002, the forum has become one of the largest international platforms where leaders, policymakers, and development organisations gather to share experiences on urban challenges.
WUF12 attracts 37,000 participants from 182 countries and territories around the world. The forum is being live-streamed and translated into the six official United Nations languages to ensure accessibility for all. The event offers an opportunity to discuss the challenges and solutions for sustainable urban development, highlighting the importance of local action in driving global change.
This year's forum features over 600 networking events, with key discussion sessions including Housing our future: addressing the global housing crisis, and emphasising the importance of ensuring adequate housing for all and reducing inequality; Cities and the climate crisis: strategies for urban resilience against climate change and highlighting the role of cities in mitigating and adapting to climate change; Stronger together: fostering partnerships between government levels and civil society to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); Financing localisation: analysing the financial needs to achieve global goals, focusing on sustainable financial mechanisms; Putting people first in the digital era: examining how digital technology can transform cities and communities while ensuring technological solutions meet people’s needs; Investigating how localisation efforts can protect people from losing their homes in the context of crises and migration.
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Delegates attending the WUF12’s opening session. (Photo: Thanh Binh) |
In the "Food + Cities + Culture" networking session, organised by HealthBridge, the main topic discussed was how food markets serve as a means of support, connecting newcomers to urban areas affected by climate change, natural disasters, and homelessness. These markets not only provide food but also create livelihoods for migrants. Farmers' markets and local markets play a crucial role in preserving cultural identity, acting as a bridge to ease newcomers’ transition to their new environment. Therefore, policies for urban market planning in each country should address the need to create livelihood opportunities for immigrants and street vendors.
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Delegates attending the WUF12 opening session. (Photo: Thanh Binh) |
The Vietnamese delegation attending the forum consists of 21 members, including representatives from various ministries, departments, local authorities, NGOs, and media outlets. The Vietnamese representatives attended several key events, such as the opening session; the Ministerial Roundtable of 53 countries; the UN-Habitat high-level meeting with Vietnam; a networking session between Vietnam, Oman, and Saudi Arabia; and ministerial-level side meetings between Vietnam and Oman, and between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. The Vietnamese delegation also explored exhibitions showcasing innovative solutions from international organisations, community groups, and leaders from around the world for sustainable urbanisation.
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Vietnam’s youth representatives, Thai Nguyen Van Giang (left) and Le Quynh Anh (right), attend the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo: Thanh Binh) |
Representing Vietnamese youth at the WUF 12 are two young people from Tam Ky City, Quang Nam Province including Thai Nguyen Van Giang and Le Quynh Anh. These two young representatives excelled in a three-round competition organised by the UN-Habitat Vietnam to secure an official spot at the world’s largest urban forum.
At this forum, Thai Nguyen Van Giang and Le Quynh Anh have the opportunity to share and discuss innovative ideas and practical solutions based on their experiences and insights into sustainable urban development in Quang Nam specifically, and in Vietnam’s cities more broadly.
They will focus on several areas, such as: The role of young leaders in urban development and global progress; Enhancing youth participation, developing local startup and innovation maps to foster new initiatives and connect like-minded individuals. With experience in environmental activities such as waste sorting and community cleanup campaigns, they will share effective approaches to raising awareness and community action on environmental issues.
The knowledge they gain from international experts and youth from other countries will help broaden their perspective on sustainable development issues and creative solutions that have been successfully implemented locally in other parts of the world. Additionally, they will have the chance to learn leadership and organisational skills, from project management to mobilising community engagement in development initiatives. These skills are expected to be invaluable as they undertake future projects in their hometown, particularly in encouraging youth engagement in community activities.
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Delegates attending the WUF12 opening session. (Photo: Thanh Binh) |
Established by the United Nations in 2001, the World Urban Forum (WUF) was first held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, in 2002. This is the world’s leading conference on urban issues, with urgent topics such as rapid urbanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change, and policy consistently serving as a central focus in the forum’s discussions.
