Kick‑off Meeting of the Service Providers Stakeholder…

Hosted by: UN‑Habitat (Urban Basic Services Section) in collaboration with WUF Stakeholder Group Service Providers and Utilities

Cities cannot deliver sustainable urbanization without strong, capable, and forward‑looking utilities and service providers. Water, energy, sanitation, waste, and transport operators are not merely infrastructure managers, they are core actors in enabling adequate housing, providing equitable access to basic services, and shaping liveable, resilient neighbourhoods.

This kick‑off meeting marks the first meeting of the Service Providers Stakeholder Group at the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13). It provides a platform for utilities, service providers, and partners to come together, break sectoral silos, and strengthen coordination across housing, land‑use planning, and infrastructure systems.

As cities continue to expand, service providers are at the frontline of critical urban challenges such as housing affordability, informal settlements transformation, climate resilience, service delivery gaps, and rising inequality. Where services are disconnected from planning and housing development, cities face sprawl, exclusion, and inefficiencies. Where they are integrated, cities unlock access to opportunity, improved quality of life, and inclusive growth.

The session will prepare participants to actively engage across WUF13 spaces, including assemblies and roundtables, and contribute to shaping the Baku Call to Action. It will provide a space for dialogue, exchange, and co‑creation of priority messages that elevate the role of utilities as key enablers of sustainable urbanization.

The meeting will also identify pathways to strengthen partnerships and highlight the central role utilities play in advancing climate‑resilient, low‑carbon, and inclusive urban systems through integrated planning and service delivery approaches.

• Strengthen integration of service providers to deliver adequate housing and equitable urban planning systems
• Contribute actionable messages to the Baku Call to Action

Guiding questions:

• How can service providers elevate their role across WUF platforms?
• What concrete actions can drive integrated, inclusive service delivery?