WUF13 (ONE UN Side Events)
The 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) convened by UN-Habitat and hosted by the Government of Azerbaijan, will take place from 17–22 May 2026 in Baku under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.” WUF13 brings together national and local governments, UN entities, development banks, civil society, the private sector and other urban stakeholders to advance solutions to the global housing crisis and accelerate progress towards inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities.
The GDF is organizing a high-level side event, sponsored by the Governments of the United Kingdom and Germany, titled “Catalytic funding and support for building safe, resilient and inclusive cities” on 20 May 2026 (12:00–13:30) at the One UN Room B.
Cities don’t lack ideas, they need the right support; join us to discover how catalytic funding and co-design can turn commitments into real, scalable solutions for disability inclusion.
Registration is free and open to everyone. In‑person attendance is limited to WUF13‑accredited participants, while virtual participation is available to all.
Confirmed speakers
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| Ms. Birgit Pickel Director General for Sustainable Development and Climate. Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Germany. | Ms. Francine Pickup UNDP’s Deputy Director. Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) | Mr. Simon Stevens Head of Green Cities and Infrastructure Team FCDO, UK |
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| Dr. Ola Abualghaib Director, Global Disability Fund Secretariat. | Mr. Ahmed Ghanem Technical Hub Coordinator, Global Disability Fund Secretariat. | Mr. Mauricio Reza Bautista Strategic Partnerships Specialist, Global Disability Fund Secretariat. |
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| Mr Chris Cormency Senior Advisor for Water and Environment. UNICEF. | Mr. Arnulf Rybicki Director of Building and Infrastructure. City of Dortmund, Germany. | Mr. Sanjay Seth Senior Director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Programme. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). India. |
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| Mr. Abayneh Gujo Desta Executive Director of the Federation of Ethiopian Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FEAPD). Ethiopia. | Mr. Santosh Kumar Rungta President of the World Blind Union and General Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind. | H.E (Prof.) Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, EGH Governor, Kisumu County. |
Showcasing GDF’s catalytic role in urban transformation
Organized under the ONE UN side events segment, this convening will highlight GDF’s role as a catalytic fund that enables coordinated UN action and locally led partnerships to advance disability-inclusive urban development. The discussion will spotlight how targeted financing, combined with strong local leadership and inclusive governance, can accelerate change where it matters most: at city and community level.
A central focus of the event will be GDF’s Resilient and Inclusive Cities Hub (RICH), launched at the Global Disability Summit in 2025 with the support of the Government of Germany. RICH works directly with cities and municipalities, bringing together local governments, organizations of persons with disabilities, UN entities, development banks, civil society and the private sector to co-design and implement inclusive and resilient urban solutions. Through catalytic funding and technical support, the initiative helps cities strengthen local systems, pilot and scale innovative approaches, and embed accessibility, universal design, climate resilience and disaster risk reduction into urban planning, housing and service delivery.
A platform for partnership and scaled impact
The side event will bring together local government leaders, donors, UN partners and civil society to share practical examples of collaboration and to reflect on what it takes to scale disability-inclusive urban solutions. Speakers will include representatives of municipalities, GDF-funded programme partners and global disability organizations, followed by an interactive discussion with participants.
By connecting global commitments with local action, the event aims to:
- Demonstrate how catalytic funding can empower cities to deliver inclusive and resilient urban development;
- Showcase RICH as a platform that connects cities globally while strengthening locally led solutions;
- Strengthen understanding of disability inclusion as a core component of urban resilience and climate action; and
- Encourage new partnerships and investments through the Global Disability Fund.
As cities look to respond to the housing crisis and build resilience in an era of climate and humanitarian risk, WUF13 offers a critical moment to place disability inclusion at the center of urban progress. GDF’s side event will contribute to this global conversation by showing how catalytic funding and inclusive partnerships can translate commitments into lasting, local impact.