From November 4 to 8, the 12^th World Urban Forum by UN Habitat took place in Cairo, Egypt. This important biannual conference brings together urban leaders from all over the world, showcasing solutions to urban challenges and learning from its host city. Over 20,000 people, most of them from African countries, discussed local action in cities and came up with the Cairo Call for Action.

The New Urban Agenda is the document that guides sustainable urban development around the world, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 11. UN Habitat’s World Urban Forum is the place to present innovative approaches and ideas in line with these international agreements. And given that we are in the final phase of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda – and that SDG 11 is woefully behind – this year’s edition of the urban conference held particular significance. 96 mayors from cities all over the world, local government experts, architects, urban planners and many other stakeholders shared their best practices and there were certainly valuable lessons to be learned.

Replicable strategies for local political and technological change

One event at WUF encapsulated the power of this conference by bringing together current and former mayors of Bristol, UK; Cairo, Egypt; Quelimane, Mozambique; and Athens, Greece. Organised by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and moderated by author Anthony Flint, the consensus was to never underestimate the power of mayors and of small politics for great delivery.

Dr. Ibrahim Seber, Cairo’s governor, explained how the megacity keeps track of its urban expansion: “We apply data analysis to roads and utilities like water and sanitation, for example to create databases for maintenance. We also offer digital services for people in Cairo to help them get an ID, for example.” The city involves the private sector, including smaller companies, in the financing of its projects, many of which revolve around tourism.

In Quelimane in Mozambique, technology is also playing an important role: The coastal city, 4^th largest of the country, is struggling to accommodate its growing population, which leads to pressure on land use and informal tenure. A GIS-based app has allowed the city to map all plots and develop requirements for every zone, including environmental rules and recommendations.

And in Athens, the Internet of Things includes sensors on trash cans and on accessibility ramps that have turned the city into a living organism. However, it is important not to use technology like AI just for technology’s sake, but rather pay attention to both what a city can offer and what its citizens need.

Citizens are not at the heart

Given the slogan “It all starts at home”, Cairo was an interesting choice to hold a conference about sustainable urban development. The many construction sites around the Egyptian capital show its ambitions, with the president, Abdel Farrah el-Sisi, who attended the conference’s opening ceremony, promising green and intelligent infrastructure. The enormous growth of Cairo, which already has around 23 million inhabitants – as many as Mexico City – is placing a lot of strain on the old infrastructure, on housing and on the struggle for land.

In response, the government is clearing informal settlements in Old Cairo and rehousing residents in social housing projects. Other, more affluent Cairenes will eventually move to the New Administrative Capital, which is currently mushrooming out of the desert. So far, only 2,000 people live in this master-planned city with its gigantic streets, endless housing developments, a central business district with the “Iconic Tower”, and not a lot of mixed use or green space. A single monorail train will serve an estimated 8 million inhabitants one day.

Meanwhile, Old Cairo and downtown areas are struggling with suffocating traffic, air pollution, and the effects of large-scale developments for tourists. For now, the city is still very vibrant and bears witness to its many different iterations, from Coptic to Islamic to Paris-inspired architecture. But already, it seems like citizens are not at the heart of the city’s urban development strategy.

Reviews planned for May 2026

As the largest World Urban Forum to date, the 12^th edition showcased that it is truly the world’s urban coalition. With over half of the global population now living in urban areas, often at risk to climate change effects, discussing their future is more relevant than ever. WUF12 showed that local governance is key for making changes, but also that funding gaps in crucial infrastructure services can be serious stumbling blocks.

The four main lessons of the conference, as described by UN Habitat’s Executive Director, Anacláudia Rossbach, are: “the critical urgency of addressing the housing crisis, which is closely linked to other crises; equitable and sustainable financing for urban development; capturing, sharing, and learning from existing solution to accelerate action and scale up good ideas; leveraging the power of coalitions and partnerships.”

As delegates go back to their hometowns or continue straight on to the climate conference in Baku, COP29, they will keep the Cairo Call to Action in mind. This main outcome of WUF12 encapsulates the key messages and ideas from the five days in Cairo. At WUF13, scheduled for May 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, cities will review their progress.

Read more about the importance of green spaces in the city here.