Past Event

The World Bank at the World Urban Forum 12 (WUF12)

Join World Bank experts at the World Urban Forum for panels and high-level discussions under this year's theme, "It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities."

Join World Bank experts at the Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) for panels and high-level discussions highlighting how the World Bank Group is supporting the development of livable cities for a livable planet.

Established by UN-Habitat, the World Urban Forum is the premier international conference on sustainable urbanization and urban issues.

The Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from November 4–8 2024, returning to the African continent after more than 20 years after its inception in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2002.

The theme of WUF12 is It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities. WUF12 will focus on localizing the Sustainable Development Goals, shedding light on the local actions and initiatives required to curb the current global challenges affecting the daily life of people, including unaffordable housing, rising living costs, climate change, the lack of basic services, and ongoing conflicts.

Join our events at WUF12 and visit our booth at the Urban Expo as World Bank Group specialists lead and participate in a series of discussions with global partners, ranging from governments and civil society to the private sector and academia. 

Follow the World Bank Group at WUF12:

Date: November 4-8, 2024

Location: Cairo, Egypt

Mark your calendar for sessions (co-)hosted by the World Bank and sessions involving World Bank speakers at WUF9 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This list may be subject to change. Download our event flyer here.

Visit the World Bank Group booth daily from 9:00 to 18:30 at #128 in the exhibition hall of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

February 7 February 8 February 9 February 10 February 11 February 12 February 13

Image*World Bank-hosted events. 

ImageWednesday, February 7

Regional Learning Exchange: Pro-Poor Land Tools
February 6-7 | Room TBC
Hosted by UN-Habitat, Global Land Tool Network, TAMPEI, and HPFPI

Business Assembly
February 7 | 10:30-17:30 | Room TBC
Hosted by UN-Habitat Climate Change and Cities. World Bank to participate at 14:15-15:45 in the plenary session on PPP, Investments, and Monitoring of Business Activities as Part of SDGs and the New Urban Agenda.

Meeting of Agencies on Land Value Capture
February 7 | 14:00-17:00 | Grand Hyatt Hotel - Grand Residence 101
Hosted by Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

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ImageThursday, February 8

Networking Event: Implementing the New Urban Agenda through a Global Sustainable Cities Platform: the GPSC
February 8 | 11:30-13:30 | Room 307
Hosted by World Resources Institute

Side Event: GAP Plenary Aligning the New Urban Agenda and the SDGs: Partners' Contributions to the UN Development Framework
February 8 | 17:00-18:00 | Room 406
Hosted by World Enabled / General Assembly of Partners (GAP)

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ImageFriday, February 9

Stakeholder Roundtable: Persons with Disabilities
February 9 | 9:00-11:00 | Room TBC
Hosted by World Enabled

Roundtable: Approaching Land and Tenure Security for Inclusive Urban Prosperity? 
February 9 | 9:00-11:00 | Room TBC
Hosted by Land and Global Land Tool Network (UN-Habitat)

Cities and the SDGs: Leaving No One Behind
February 9 | 12:00-13:15 | One UN Room
Hosted by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Training Event: Implementing Local and Territorial Economic Development: Towards Competitive Cities*
February 9 | 11:00-14:00 | Room 405
Hosted by the World Bank

Press Panel: Developing a Global People-Based Definition of Cities and Settlements
February 9 | 14:30-15:30 | Media Center
Hosted by The European Commission

Networking Event: Operationalizing Territorial and Local Economic Development*
February 9 | 15:00-17:00 | Room 407
Hosted by the World Bank

Networking Event: Scaling Up Sustainable Housing to Implement the New Urban Agenda
February 9 | 15:00-17:00 | Room 307
Hosted by CONAVI (Mexico National Housing Commission)

Panel Discussion: Urban Forced Displacement: the New Normal
February 9 | 18:00-19:00 | Listen to Cities
Hosted by Europe Commission - Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO)

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ImageSaturday, February 10

Networking Event: Towards Implementing the New Urban Agenda in the Euro-Mediterranean Region
February 10 | 9:00-11:00 | Room 404
Hosted by Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), UN-Habitat, European Commission, and European Investment Bank. World Bank to participate at 9:40 - Innovative Funding Instruments for New Projects and Initiatives

High-Level Roundtable: Urbanization and Development: Investing in the Transformative Force of Cities
February 10 | 9:00-12:00 | Room TBC
Hosted by UN-Habitat

Dialogues: Addressing Urban Complex Crisis and Conflict
February 10 | 9:00-12:00 | Room TBC
Hosted by UN-Habitat

Urban Housing Practitioners Hub: A Network to Improve Housing Conditions in Latin America and Beyond
February 10 | 9:00-11:00 | Room 307
Hosted by Habitat for Humanity / The Urban Housing Practitioners Hub (UHPH) / UNIAPRAVI

Culture, Recovery and Reconstruction: Sustainable Development Policies
February 10 | 13:00-15:00 | One UN Room
Hosted by UNESCO and the World Bank. Download event flyer

Networking Event: Rapid Planning - Introducing New Approaches to Planning and Financing Urban Supply and Disposal Infrastructure
February 10 | 13:00-15:00 | AFINUA
Hosted by BMBF German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and UN-Habitat

Side Event: Financing and Implementing Sustainable Cities (Launch of the GPSC's Urban Sustainability Framework - USF)*
February 10 | 14:00-15:00 | Room 402
Hosted by The World Bank, Global Environment Facility (GEF) - Sustainable Cities, and the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC)

Roundtable: Cities in International Cooperation and Urbanization as a Driving Force for Development, Determining Developmental Politics in the Future
February 10 | 14:00-15:00 | Room TBC
Hosted by GIZ

Special Session: Creative Investment and Financing Mechanismss for Local Governments
February 10 | 14:30-16:30 | Room TBC
Hosted by UN-Habitat

Special Session: Affordable Housing for All (Diverse Income and Multi-Generational Cities)
February 10 | 14:30-16:30 | Room TBC
Hosted by UN-Habitat

High-Level Roundtable: An Integrated Territorial Approaches to Sustainable Development
February 10 | 14:30-17:30 | Room TBC
Hosted by UN-Habitat

Dialogues: Making Resilient Cities
February 10 | 14:30-17:30 | Room TBC
Hosted by the United Nations

Developing a Global, People-based Definition of Cities and Settlements: A Progress Report
February 10 | 15:00-17:00 | AFINUA
Hosted by the European Commission

Side Event: Cities of Refuge in the Middle East: Bringing an Urban Lens to the Forced Displacement Challenge*
February 10 | 17:00-18:00 | Room 408
Hosted by the World Bank and Tufts University's Feinstein International Center

Side Event: Implementing Global and National Climate Action in Cities - the Localization of the NDCs
February 10 | 17:00-18:00 | Room 404
Hosted by BMZ and GIZ

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ImageSunday, February 11

Enhancing City Resilience through International Collaboration*
February 11 | 9:00-11:00 | AFINUA
Hosted by the World Bank / GFDRR / Medellin Collaboration for Urban Resilience

High-Level Roundtable: Innovative Governance for Open and Inclusive Cities
February 11 | 9:00-12:00 | Room TBC
Hosted by UN-Habitat

Urban Library: Effective city to city collaboration modality to achieve SDG 11 and beyond: case of Cities Partnership Programme and Yokohama
February 11 | 12:00-13:00 | Urban Library
Hosted by the City of Yokohama, Japan

High-Level Panel: Thriving Cities, Prosperous Countries: From Agenda to Implementation
February 11 | 13:00-18:30 | Room TBC
Hosted by the Coalition for Urban Transitions, World Resources Institute, C40 Climate Leadership Group
World Bank to participate at 15:35-16:35 in the panel "Delivering urban infrastructure and core services for all" 

Advisory Committee of the Cities and Climate Change Initiative
February 11 | 13:00-17:30 | Room TBC
Hosted by UN-Habitat

Press Briefing on World Bank Report: East Asia and Pacific Cities: Expanding Opportunities for the Urban Poor*
February 11 | 14:00-15:00 | Press Conference Room
Hosted by the World Bank

Side Event: Strengthening City Resilience*
February 11 | 17:00-18:00 | Room 307
Hosted by the World Bank

Side Event: Implementing Universal Accessibility at the Local Level - Practical Actions for Realizing an Inclusive New Urban Agenda
February 11 | 17:00-18:00 | Room 408
Hosted by Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments / The Global Network on Disability Inclusive and Accessible Urban Development (DIAUD)

Multilateral Development Banks' Regional and Thematic Initiatives Toward the New Urban Agenda
February 11 | 17:00-19:00 | AFINUA
Hosted by Asian Development Bank (ADB)

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ImageMonday, February 12

Stakeholders' Roundtable: Business and Industries Roundtable
February 12 | 9:00-11:00 | Room TBC
Hosted by UN-Habitat

Training Event: Smart Cities 2030 - How to Build Smart Cities
February 12 | 11:00-14:00 | Room 404
Hosted by World Enabled

Special Session: Urban Ecological Landscapes: Achieving Urban Health Addressing Climate Change
February 12 | 14:30-16:30 | Room 404 
Hosted by the United Nations

Networking Event: Navigating the Affordable Housing Market in Urban Cities*
February 12 | 15:00-17:00 | Room 304
Hosted by the World Bank and Bank Negara Malaysia
Download event flyer and presentation materials

Networking Event: Public Space as driver of Equitable Economic Growth: Policy and Practice to Leverage a Key Asset for Vibrant City Economies
February 12 | 15:00-17:00 | Room 407
Hosted by Cities Alliance / DFID

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ImageTuesday, February 13

Expert Group Meeting: Global Land Tool Network Gender Strategy
February 13 | Time and Room TBC
Hosted by Huairou Coalition

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Click here for the full WUF9 program. 

Agenda subject to change.

Tuesday, 5 November 2024

9:00–10:30 AM Closing the City Finance Gap
Organized by the World Bank
One UN Room B
10:00–12:00 PM Dialogue 1: Housing our future
Organized by UN-Habitat
Plenary room A
1:00–2:30 PM Planning and Investing in Cities for Nature and Nature for Cities
Co-organized with the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Voices from Cities - Room F
1:00–2:30 PM Learning to Collaborate: Embracing the Role of International Donors and Investors in Delivering a Step-Change in the Supply and Demand of Gender-Sensitive Green Affordable Housing
Co-organized with Reall, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Women’s World Banking
Multipurpose room 03
1:00–2:30 PM The Role of Private Sector in Financing Sustainable Development in Cities
Co-organized with the International Finance Corporation (IFC)
ONE UN Room B
1:30–3:30 PM One UN Roundtable
Organized by UN-Habitat and the United Nations Development Coordination Office (DCO)
Roundtable room B
5:00–6:30 PM Innovating urban resilience: Financing strategies and smart solutions for cities worldwide
Organized by the City Diplomacy Lab 
Multipurpose Room 3
5:00–6:30 PM SDG Cities Lusophone Initiative - The Portuguese-Speaking Countries Example
Organized by the Camara Municipal de Mafra
Multipurpose Room 8

Wednesday, 6 November 2024

8:30–10:00 AM Cities for More and Better Jobs in the Middle East and North Africa
Side event organized by the World Bank
JW Marriott Hotel Cairo
9:00–12:00 PM Training Session: Spatially Informed Infrastructure Investment Prioritization to Finance Resilient and Sustainable Cities
Co-organized with UN-Habitat
Multipurpose Room 14
10:00–12:00 PM Dialogue 4: Financing localisation and localising finance
Organized by UN-Habitat
Plenary room B
11:00–12:30 PM Adaptive Public Spaces: Key Ingredients for Optimizing Public Space Activation, Safety and Accessibility
Co-organized with Cairo University
Voices from Cities - Room D
1:00–2:30 PM

Lessons from spatial planning platform: enhancing wellbeing in urban and rural areas
Co-organized with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan
Multipurpose Room 06
1:00–2:30 PM Ghanas urban development trajectory and future the National Urban Policy and Implementation Plan (2024-2033)
Co-organized with the Ghana Ministry of Local Government Decentralisation and Rural Development
Multipurpose room 09
3:00–4:30 PM Scaling-up Financing for an Urban Shift towards Nature-Positive and Climate-Resilient Cities
Organized by UNEP
ONE UN room B
3:00–4:30 PM Challenging the Integrated Urban Development in Greater Metropolitan Region- A case of Greater Cairo Region in Egypt, New Capital in Indonesia, and Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area in Uganda
Organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency
Multipurpose room 17
3:00–4:30 PM Cities and Corridors - the importance of an urban perspective for harnessing the development potential of enhanced connectivity
Organized by SECO
Multipurpose room 11
3:00–4:30 PM Local Resource Mobilization and Local Finance Strategies to Support Urban Development: Lessons from Qena Governorate, Egypt and the Local Finance Framework 
Organized by UNCDF - United Nations Capital Development Fund
SDGs in Action - room B
3:00–4:30 PM

Green Infrastructure and Nature-based Solutions in Built Environments: Collaborative Frameworks to Address Climate Change
Co-organized with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 
ONE UN Room A
3:00–4:30 PM Cities and Corridors - the importance of an urban perspective for harnessing the development potential of enhanced connectivity
Co-organized with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
Multipurpose Room 11
3:15–4:00 PM Empowering Upper Egypt: A Holistic Approach to Regional Growth and Governance
Co-organized with the Egypt Ministry of Local Development
Urban Cinema
3:15–4:15 PM Inclusive Communities - Delivering Adequate Housing for All Through Urban Regeneration Cities
Co-organized with UN-Habitat
UN-Habitat Arena
5:00–6:30 PM Securing Financing for Affordable, Green, and Resilient Housing and Buildings
Organized by the World Bank
SDGs in Action - Room A
5:00–6:30 PM Towards Financially Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management Systems in Africa 
Co-organized with UN-Habitat
Multipurpose Room 17
5:00–6:30 PM Urbanising Middle East and North African Cities in the Age of Climate Change
Organized by ARUP
Multipurpose room 11
5:00–6:30 PM Innovating Urban Governance: Unlocking Evidence-Based Strategies for Smart Sustainable Cities
Co-organized with the Egypt Ministry of Housing Utilities & Urban Communities
Voices from Cities - room F
6:00–7:00 PM Decentralization as a Tool for Service Delivery and Development: The Egyptian and Dutch Experience
Co-organized by the World Bank
Urban Library - Room B

Thursday, 7 November 2024

8:00–10:00 AM Future Global Action Plan on Housing and Infrastructure Finance roundtable (Invitation Only)
Co-organized with UN-Habitat
Roundtable room B
8:30–9:30 AM Spotlight on the Urban Crises: Gaza
Organized by UN-Habitat
Plenary room B
9:00–10:30 AM Fostering Climate Action at the Local Level: Learning from Ambitious Cities and Strong Partnerships
Co-organized with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCOM)
Voices from Cities - Room B
1:00–2:30 PM Climate Finance Instruments for Local Governments: Global Experiences and Prospects in Developing Countries
Co-organized with the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
Multipurpose Room 07
1:00–2:30 PM Spotlight on the 100 million plus forcibly internally displaced people
Organized by UN-Habitat
Multipurpose room 01
1:00–2:30 PM Egypt National Smart City Strategy and Implementation Program
Co-organized with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Egypt Ministry of Housing
Multipurpose Room 17
4:00–6:00 PM Special Session- It all starts at home
Organized by UN-Habitat
Plenary room A
4:30–5:30 PM The social value of urban regeneration - Presentation of Sustainable Urban Regeneration Atlas
Organized by the Universita Bocconi
Urban Library - room A
5:00–6:30 PM Challenges of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) Supporting Countries and Cities on Sub-national Finance
Co-organized with African Development Bank Group (AFDB) and MDB Cities Group
Voices from Cities - Room C

Friday, 8 November 2024

9:00–12:00 PM Local Economic Development: The Egyptian Experience in Economic Decentralization and Local Resource Mobilization
Co-organized with the Egypt Ministry of Local Development, UN-Habitat, and the UN Development Programme (UNDP)
Multipurpose Room 07
11:00–12:30 PM Cities in a Global Perspective: Applying the Degree of Urbanisation
Co-organized with the European Commission
ONE UN Room A

Date: November 04 - 08, 2024 ET

Location: Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt