The Second Africa Urban Forum seeks to elevate housing as a central development priority and to position it as a transformative lever for Africa’s urban future. The Forum aims to mobilise political leadership, align policy frameworks, and catalyse collective action in support of affordable, inclusive, and sustainable housing across the continent.
Specifically, AUF2 will raise awareness among policymakers, stakeholders, and the public on the critical role of housing in achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063, particularly in the context of rapid urbanisation, demographic change, and climate pressures. It will inspire coordinated action among Member States, financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector to align efforts and accelerate the delivery of affordable housing at scale.
The Forum will provide space for rigorous examination of housing policy frameworks, including diverse tenure systems and inclusive slum transformation strategies, recognising informal settlements as integral components of African cities while unlocking pathways toward adequate, safe, and sustainable housing. It will also serve as a platform for sharing best practices, innovative solutions, and successful case studies from across the continent, fostering peer learning and adaptation across varied national and local contexts.
AUF2 will engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders—governments, cities, private sector actors, civil society, and communities—to encourage collaboration, co-creation, and shared ownership of housing solutions. In parallel, the Forum will advance dialogue on innovative financing strategies and delivery models capable of crowding in public and private investment to support large-scale housing and urban development.
Finally, AUF2 will promote climate-smart and sustainable housing approaches that respond to present needs while safeguarding future generations, and will generate policy recommendations to inform African Union decision-making and shape Africa’s collective engagement at the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
