Media OutReach Newswire 
Kenya has secured a strategic financial and technical partnership with Azerbaijan to support the successful delivery of the Second Africa Urban Forum (AUF2), as preparations intensify ahead of the high-level continental gathering scheduled to take place in Nairobi in two weeks.
The agreement, signed in Nairobi, will see support channelled through Azerbaijan International Development Agency, reinforcing Kenya’s growing position as a continental centre for urban policy dialogue, innovation and sustainable development engagement.
AUF2, which is being hosted by the Government of Kenya in partnership with the African Union, is expected to bring together policymakers, city leaders, urban planners and development partners from across Africa and beyond to advance practical solutions for inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban growth.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Alice Wahome said the partnership would help ensure that discussions initiated in Nairobi continue to shape global urban conversations beyond the continent.
“In less than two weeks, Nairobi will bring Africa and the world together, and through this partnership, we are ensuring that the conversations we start here continue globally in Baku. That continuity is what will drive real change for our cities,” said Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Alice Wahome.
She added that the forum also presents Kenya with an opportunity to demonstrate progress made in housing delivery, urban renewal and sustainable city development while drawing lessons from international partners.
“For Kenya, this is also an opportunity to showcase the progress we are making in housing, urban renewal and sustainable city development, while learning from global partners and scaling solutions that work for our people,” she said.
The partnership comes at a time when Kenya is increasingly positioning itself at the centre of policy discussions shaping the future of African cities, against a backdrop of rapid urbanisation and growing pressure for sustainable infrastructure and affordable housing.
Sultan Hajiyev said the collaboration reflects a shared ambition between Nairobi and Baku to strengthen global urban cooperation.
“Nairobi and Baku are connected in purpose. The discussions at the Africa Urban Forum will naturally feed into the World Urban Forum, creating a shared platform where Africa and the global community can learn from each other and act together,” he said.
The collaboration creates a strategic bridge between AUF2 and World Urban Forum 13, which will be hosted in Baku from May 17 to 22, 2026, positioning the two meetings as complementary platforms for advancing urban dialogue and action.
Azerbaijan is expected to send a high-level delegation to Nairobi led by Anar Guliyev, who serves as National Coordinator of WUF13 and Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture. The delegation will also include senior government officials, representatives of the State Support Agency for NGOs and private sector actors.
The Second Africa Urban Forum builds on outcomes from the inaugural meeting held in Addis Ababa in 2024 and is expected to culminate in the Nairobi Declaration, a document intended to articulate Africa’s shared position on housing and human settlements while highlighting locally driven innovation, partnerships and urban solutions.
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