WUF12 kicks off in Cairo to empower new system of balanced cities

CAIRO - 5 November 2024: The 12th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) kicked off Monday from Cairo, where thousands of international participants attended the opening session. 

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi officially inaugurated the forum along with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Anaclaudia Rossbach. 

During his speech, President Sisi welcomed the international guests and all the attendees, as he highlights that Cairo was chosen to host this important forum for the fact of being one of the world’s oldest and diverse cities. 

He stressed that the forum is held at a critical time, where the world is witnessing conflicts, wars and global crises which had severe repercussions on cities worldwide. 

He added that this is a decisive time “that requires us to mobilize efforts and exercise political will to stop conflicts and rather focus efforts on development and reconstruction”.

He further said that the violence witnessed in the Middle East region cause challenges like losing homes, adding that there are lots of suffering on a daily basis in many countries, which require the stop of bloodshed, violence and conflicts. 

As he concluded his remarks, Sisi announced that launching of both the National Strategy of Green Urbanism and the National Strategy for Smart cities. 

For her part, Anaclaudia Rossbach highlighted the critical role plated by cities for the sake of humanity, as she thanked everyone who joined the forum, considering it to be the largest WUF ever given the huge number of participants. 

“We believe that this magnitude comes from the fact that the forum is held in Cairo, with its rich culture,” she said. 

The opening session was attended by state leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who greeted the attendees of WUF12, and highlighted the importance of the forum to move toward urban development at the time where Palestine is witnessing damages, stolen land, genocide and ethnic cleansing by the Israeli occupation. 

“80% of facilities, hospitals and buildings were damaged in Gaza Strip and more than 150k Palestinians were killed and injured,” President Abbas added.  

“The international community is committed to stop the Israeli Occupation..we need firm stances to be taken by the world and the UN to enforce the law and end the genocide,” Abbas added.

Also President of the Sovereign Council of Sudan and Commander in Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was one of the honorable guests, and he thanked Egypt’s role in leading the urban development in Africa after long time of suffering and challenges. 

 

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres sent a video message that was screened durnig the opening session, where he said that "I see local and regional authorities as a crucial part of the answer on so many issues and at every level, including at the United Nations."

"You are on the frontlines of shaping a more inclusive, connected and resilient world. And you are at the heart of where lasting change happens," Guterres added. 

UN Secretary General concluded his message saying that "Local actions are the building blocks for future green, just and resilient cities. Together, let's make sustainable urbanization a reality."

Balanced System of cities in Egypt

The UN Egypt Pavilion hosted a panel discussion Monday, under the title “Balanced System of Cities for Green Transition and Inclusive Growth across the Urban-Rural Quantum”, aiming to launch a call for collective action to build on existing efforts in Egypt to address the imbalanced system of cities, through collective efforts to enable a new model of balanced cities that contributes to achieving sustainable development goals.

UN-Habitat Egypt Country Director, Ahmed Rezk, moderated a vibrant panel discussion featuring the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova; Dr. Abdel Khalek Ibrahim, Assistant Minister of Housing; Dr. Hisham Elhelbawy, Assistant Minister of Local Development for National Projects and Director of the Local Development Program in Upper Egypt; Engineer Amr Lashin, Deputy Governor of Aswan; Mr. Guido Clare, Head of the Regional Center for North Africa and the Middle East at the European Investment Bank; Ms. Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director of the Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises Centre and Regions and Cities at OECD; and Dr. Salma Yousry, Director of Urban Development Program at UN-Habitat.

In her remarks during the session, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova, highlighted spatial imbalances in Egypt, citing Ministry of Planning and Economic Development data, which indicates that Greater Cairo generates 45% of Egypt's GDP, while Alexandria contributes 15%.

Panova noted that Cairo particularly dominates the Egyptian economy, with jobs, major companies, and private investments concentrated in the capital city, while many other Egyptian cities lack the capacity for robust growth and job creation Meanwhile, the movement of people to Cairo and Alexandria—more than 70% of internal migration—increases pressure on services, housing, and jobs, she added.

"This all contributes to a vicious cycle: people leave smaller cities because of limited employment opportunities, which in turn further depresses the attractiveness of these areas as economic centers, leaving even fewer economic opportunities for the population,” Panova said.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt also highlighted the UN's role in coordinating various efforts to support more inclusive and balanced development, as she explained that the UN's approach in Egypt toward more balanced development among different cities and regions relies on a coordinated effort across all UN agencies, which leverages the collective expertise of the UN system.

Panova mentioned that many UN agencies are already active at the local level across Egypt, working with diverse demographic, geographic, and economic sectors, which has made a difference in boosting development outside major urban areas.

However, she pointed to the need to expand this work, noting that the UN in Egypt will soon launch a multi-agency program on SDG localization, involving UN-Habitat, the UNDP and UNICEF, to be financed by the Joint SDG Fund.

Ubranization is vital 

With over 80% of global GDP generated in cities, urbanization is vital for prosperity. In Egypt, however, rapid urban growth has strained cities' capacity to meet population needs, exacerbated by climate change, leading to further inequality, increased migration patterns, and a widened poverty gap in many cities. This left 70% of Egyptian cities with low development capabilities, lacking productivity, quality of life, and access to resources.

Egypt’s National Urban Policy seeks to balance this by enhancing city competitiveness, connectivity, and resilience. Through integrated development, including human capital growth, circular economy, and mainstreaming climate action, cities can support national growth and offer better opportunities for Egyptians.

It all starts at home

Under the theme “It all starts at home: Local actions for sustainable cities and communities,” WUF12 centres on localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by emphasizing the importance of community-led solutions to address global challenges such as affordable housing, climate adaptation, essential public services, and the impacts of rising living costs.