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).

The Second Africa Urban Forum is expected to deliver concrete outcomes that reinforce Africa’s collective commitment to advancing inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development, with housing positioned at the centre of this agenda.

The Forum will forge renewed political and institutional commitment among Member States and stakeholders to operationalise the principles set out in the Africa Urban Forum Declaration adopted in Addis Ababa. This will include a strengthened focus on inclusive housing policies that expand equitable access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing for all urban residents.

To support accountability and continuity, AUF2 will contribute to the formulation of a high- level monitoring approach to track progress on housing-related commitments, ensuring alignment with ongoing regional and global urban dialogues.

AUF2 will also catalyse collaborative partnerships among governments, the private sector, civil society, financial institutions, and community organisations, enabling the co-creation of housing solutions and facilitating sustained knowledge exchange and resource mobilisation.

Through platforms such as the Africa Housing Compact, the Forum will strengthen cooperation across actors and geographies, supporting scalable and locally adaptable housing interventions. In addition, the Forum will provide a vibrant continental platform for the exchange of best practices, innovative approaches, and successful housing and urban development case studies from across Africa. This will enhance peer learning and encourage the replication and adaptation of proven solutions within diverse urban contexts.

The Forum will further enhance the visibility of African-led innovation and leadership in housing and urban development, positioning Africa as a proactive contributor to global urban policy discourse.

The principal outcome of AUF2 will be the adoption of the AUF2 Nairobi Declaration, which will articulate Africa’s shared priorities and policy positions on housing and human settlements and inform the continent’s engagement at the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum

The Forum will be guided by the following theme:

“Adequate Housing for All: Advancing Socio-economic and Environmental Transformation towards the realization of Agenda 2063’’

This theme places housing at the centre of Africa’s urban transformation agenda, recognizing it as both a social imperative and a strategic economic driver. It reflects the continent’s shared commitment to inclusive growth, human dignity, resilience, and structural transformation, while responding directly to Africa’s accelerating urbanization and the urgent need to deliver safe, affordable, and sustainable housing at scale. AUF2 will position housing not as a sectoral concern, but as a unifying platform through which cities can drive productivity, climate resilience, social cohesion, and long-term prosperity in line with Agenda 2063.

Sub-themes

AUF2 will be guided by the following interconnected sub-themes:

1. Urban planning and infrastructure development
2. Resilience building and sustainable urban development
3. Smart cities, technology, and innovation
4. Innovative financing for housing and urban development
5. Transformation of informal settlements
6. Urban displacement and migration

For more information please contact:

a. African Union Commission
Mr. Issaka Garba Abdou, Head of Division, Governance and Human Rights and Coordinator of the AUF, Email: GarbaAbdoui@africanunion.org; and Ms . Gaokgakala Sobatha, Expert Decentralization , Local Governance and Urban Development , Email: SobathaG@AfricanUnion.org

b. Government of Kenya
Eng. Byron Buyu, Secretary Urban and Metropolitan Development, Email: byronbuyu@gmail.com; Plan. Lilian Kieni, Director Urban Development liliank312@gmail.com; and Dr. Robert Sangori, Deputy Director Urban Governance, Management and Resilience / BCRUP Coordinator, rsangori@gmail.com