Ahram Online: What are the main benefits for Egypt in hosting the World Urban Forum?

Atef Salem: Hosting a forum of this scale is crucial for Egypt. It’s an opportunity to deliver multiple messages. Firstly, it demonstrates Egypt’s capability to host the two most important UN conferences in under two years. After COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh in November 2022, Egypt now hosts the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12). This certainly reflects the international community's confidence in Egypt's administration and serves as a testament to the country's political stability.

Established in 2001, this forum is the premier global conference on urban development, a multi-stakeholder event, and a platform for knowledge exchange. It’s also an opportunity for Egypt to showcase its comprehensive development reforms across sectors, particularly urban and infrastructure. Egypt can highlight its experience in developing informal settlements and creating alternative housing solutions for its citizens.

The forum offers Egypt a unique chance to secure partnerships with international organizations across various fields. This is also the first time the forum is held in such a large city, Cairo, with a population of over 20 million. It provides Egypt with a chance to explore other countries’ urban development successes, which can certainly serve as inspiration.

AO: What are the main themes to be discussed at WUF12?

AS: The core theme of this edition is "It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities." Local action is crucial to achieving sustainable development and fostering the concept of safe, inclusive, and resilient cities. The principle of localization, a key focus here, acknowledges the distinct needs and priorities of each region, city, and community.

We aim to maximize the potential of cities, driving global transformation through local action. Everything begins at home, in our communities, together. This approach encourages the participation of governments, the private sector, international actors, opinion leaders, entrepreneurs, and most importantly, local stakeholders and urban residents.

Discussions will address new realities in an increasingly urbanized world. The forum prioritizes amplifying diverse voices, ensuring the inclusion of women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, displaced individuals, and a broad spectrum of stakeholders across all sessions. This event comes at a pivotal moment when the international community faces unprecedented challenges, with only five years left to achieve the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, tangible and concrete initiatives will be emphasized. Global thinkers and decision-makers will share their visions, ideas, and solutions, with active public engagement.

AO: The forum addresses the rapid expansion of cities. What are the major changes cities have experienced, especially in our region?

AS: The forum addresses one of today’s most urgent issues: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities and cities. According to UN-Habitat, more than 60 percent of the world's population will live in cities by 2030. This swift urbanization compels us to examine the current state of our cities. Africa is a continent with the fastest urban growth, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean.

The forum is a chance to assess cities' preparedness to absorb this influx. We are witnessing the most significant shift from rural to urban life, encompassing migration, food security, and inequality. Are infrastructures ready to accommodate this surplus? Are there enough job opportunities for the growing urban population? Accelerated change affects housing costs, air quality, access to public spaces, and even climate change are topics at the heart of urban planning worldwide. How do 4.4 billion city dwellers live, work, and share this space?

The theme "It All Starts at Home" thus includes the physical, cultural, social, environmental, and economic dimensions of urban life. It's time to rethink cities, redefine their role, and approach these challenges with innovation. When addressing issues, such as forced displacement, we must reimagine the future of cities. Homelessness, regional conflicts, and displacement are now more pressing than ever, with urban areas at the forefront. Cities have become both battlegrounds and the last refuge.

AO: Housing has never been a more pressing issue. How will the forum tackle this complex topic?

AS: According to UN-Habitat, 4.4 billion people live, work, and seek happiness in cities. The global housing crisis impacts 2.8 billion people, creating critical housing issues. Affordable housing has never been more relevant. The forum will open a dialogue to demonstrate that adequate housing is attainable. We will explore costs associated with location, funding sources to optimize cities' roles, and policies that empower residents and facilitate access to adequate housing.

Over the past 50 years, housing prices have surged, far outpacing those of other basic services. Urban inequalities and housing shortages are byproducts of economic crises. Funding is, thus, deeply tied to accessibility. It's time to address urban affordability. No region, country, or city is immune from the devastating effects of housing inadequacy.

The forum will discuss private capital's role in supporting urban development financing and implementation. Accessibility (the creation of affordable housing), resilience, and sustainability in urban areas require adequate funding. Involvement from development partners, such as the World Bank, will allow us to explore investment opportunities to bridge financing and infrastructure gaps.

Cities hold immense revenue-generating potential, yet many cities remain underutilized despite offering vast opportunities. The forum will delve into areas of expertise, dialogue, and adaptation of global programs to local realities.

AO: What distinguishes the 12th edition of the forum?

AS: What stands out so far is the record-breaking number of participants, exceeding those of all previous editions. We continue to receive registration requests, with over 17,000 participants from 174 countries. UN-Habitat alone has invited 1,536 members, with 193 foreign ministers, 207 ministers of housing or development, governors, mayors, senior officials, business leaders, representatives from global organizations, civil society, the private sector, and 59 speakers and experts — all while numbers continue to rise.

One hundred thirty-one countries are participating in the exhibition held alongside the forum. Heads of state and government will also attend. Over 1,100 activities will take place during the five-day event, including plenary sessions, dialogues, and roundtables, along with urban and art exhibits, films, and artworks.

Egypt submitted its bid in 2022 at the 11th forum in Poland to host the 12th edition, shortly after receiving the UN Scroll of Honour Award for Sustainable Urbanization. This was awarded to the Egyptian Urban Communities Authority for its role in improving living conditions and providing affordable housing. A total of 170 cities had applied to host the forum.

AO: What outcomes should we expect from the 12th edition of the forum?

AS: The 12th edition is set to be decisive. Following the last forum in Katowice, Poland, we aim to emerge with concrete solutions to enhance urban living conditions. We hope to publish a final declaration with actionable commitments. This will be the first time in over 20 years that the forum has been held in Africa since Nairobi in 2002. We also aim to sign cooperation agreements, allowing Egyptian companies to explore new global markets and attract foreign investment.

We are leveraging the expertise of multiple organizations and participants to develop urban planning policies, financing mechanisms, and land-use strategies while addressing challenges related to climate change and population growth. For Egypt, as always, every challenge presents an opportunity rather than an obstacle.