The Baku Urban Award was created to bring together three elements that currently operate separately, Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture and National Coordinator of WUF13, said during the event titled “Baku Urban Award: Scaling Housing Solutions for Global Impact” held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, APA reports.
He noted that these elements are practice, knowledge, and policy:
“Practice means real solutions already implemented by city leaders and professionals; knowledge means the scientific and systematic documentation explaining why these solutions work; and policy means the adoption of these practices by governments, international institutions, and the global urban agenda. Each award cycle will not end with just a ceremony. This process will continue through learning, capacity building, and support for the implementation of solutions. The goal of this award is not merely to showcase solutions, but to activate them. The value of a global award is measured by its credibility.”
Anar Guliyev stated that the Baku Urban Award will be evaluated by an independent jury with international authority:
“This jury will consist of recognized experts in architecture, urban planning, housing finance, climate science, and civil society. The full list will be announced soon. In a few minutes, Norman Foster’s video address will demonstrate the vision embodied by this award.”
Anar Guliyev added that from today, the Baku Urban Award is open to the entire world:
“We do not see the Baku Urban Award as a national award with international guests. We see it as a global award originating from Azerbaijan. The future stages will be open to all regions and all income levels. If, 10 years from now, people in any city around the world are living better thanks to the solutions highlighted and scaled through this award, then the award will have fulfilled its mission.
Azerbaijan’s commitment to the global urban agenda is long-term and meaningful. We hosted COP29 and launched multilateral action initiatives for sustainable and healthy cities. We invite governments, cities, financial institutions, academia, practitioners, and civil society to join us on this path. None of this would have been possible without UN-Habitat. On behalf of the Government of Azerbaijan, I express my deep gratitude to the organization, its leadership, and its dedicated team. From today onward, the Baku Urban Award is open to the entire world,” he said.
