Cairo: Human Settlements Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, is leading a government delegation to the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) Summit taking place from November 4-8, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt. The forum, established by the United Nations in 2021, is organized by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and hosted by different member states every two years.
According to South African Government News Agency, the 12th World Urban Forum is held under the theme: ‘It All Starts at Home. Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities’. The summit aims to bring together delegates, including Ministers from around the world, to explore collaborative approaches among various government spheres to achieve the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The summit focuses on multilevel governance arrangements and partnerships concerning adequate housing, climate action, finance systems, digital technology, and urban crisis response. It addresses the pressing issue of rapid urbanization an
d its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change, and policies.
WUF12 is aligned with this year’s theme, emphasizing the critical role of local actions in driving urban sustainability. The Department of Human Settlements stated that Minister Kubayi will participate as a panellist in several sessions and address other discussions, including the session on localizing the implementation of the Global Action Plan for Accelerating the Transformation of Slum and Informal Settlements.
The Minister is also scheduled to attend several ministerial sessions and engage in bilateral meetings with global leaders on the summit’s sidelines. Additionally, a networking session is planned to create a dialogue space between India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) countries and development partners. This session will revolve around the Global Action Plan, sharing visions and actions for slum transformation, localized prioritization, and multi-partnership approaches.
The South African delegation comprises officials
from all government spheres, Human Settlements entities, Members of the Executive Councils responsible for Human Settlements, representatives from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Mayors, and Members of Mayoral Committees of Human Settlements.