Azerbaijan’s proactive approach to housing policy and the urban development projects implemented in Baku are being appreciated by international organizations, Jonathan Reckford, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Habitat for Humanity International, said in a statement to APA-Economics within the framework of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
“I have just arrived in Baku, but what I have already seen is very remarkable. The projects being implemented here and the country’s proactive approach to housing needs are commendable,” he noted.
Jonathan Reckford highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s hosting of the World Urban Forum: “The gathering of representatives from different countries of the world in Baku is an important opportunity to increase attention to both the housing problem and real solutions.”
According to him, almost all countries in the world are facing serious problems related to housing provision: “To solve the housing crisis, the public sector, private sector and civil society must act together. Currently, around 3 billion people in the world live in informal housing conditions. Our goal is to gradually improve the living conditions of these people.”
According to Jonathan Reckford, housing is not only a social need, but also a key condition for sustainable development.
“When children live in stable and safe housing, they are healthier, perform better at school and are able to fully realize their potential. When there is no housing, it becomes difficult to solve other problems as well,” he added.
Jonathan Reckford stated that cooperation between the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Habitat for Humanity International, governments and civil society is the most effective approach to solving housing problems.
