Rossbach: Reconstruction process in Azerbaijan is being carried out with active participation of communities: “Today we are in a period with clear and concrete objectives, and also of strategic importance for UN-Habitat. This is because this year is the first year of our new strategic plan covering 2026-2029,” said Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Anacl¡udia Rossbach, at the event ‘WUF13 NGO Forum: Global Partnerships and Decision-Making,” APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Rossbach emphasized that the new strategic plan prioritizes promoting housing for all, expanding access to land, increasing access to basic services, and transforming informal settlements and vulnerable areas. She stressed that merely constructing houses is insufficient; creating functioning systems, communities, cities, and fostering solidarity are essential elements. A new social contract is deemed necessary for sustainable development.
The Executive Director pointed out that the scale of the tasks is beyond the capability of a single institution. Collaboration is crucial, and urban planning must be grounded in participatory principles. Stable, institutional participatory governance mechanisms that encompass various sectors at the local level need to be established. Coordination between local and national levels is vital. Civil society, academic circles, community organizations, and the private sector are integral to the development of housing and urban policies and the transformation of territories. In Azerbaijan, the reconstruction efforts actively involve communities and stakeholders, evidenced by an NGO Agency that includes over 300 organizations and NGOs. Rossbach underscored the necessity of such participation for the upcoming World Urban Forum and in evaluating the implementation of the New Urban Agenda adopted in Quito in 2016. She concluded by stating the importance of participation in overcoming the global housing crisis.