At the Children and Youth Assembly, held during the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF) in Cairo, young leaders from across the globe gathered to adopt the updated Global DeclarACTION on Youth and Sustainable Urbanization (“Global Youth DeclarACTION 2.0”). This event was the culmination of over a year of intensive collaboration between youth, city stakeholders, and international organizations. It represents a bold declaration of their shared vision for urban futures that are inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. The contributions were gathered through surveys, focus groups, and city-level initiatives, making the document a testament to the collective determination of youth to reimagine and shape the cities of tomorrow.
The DeclarACTION builds on the foundation of the Youth 2030 Cities Initiative, a program that empowers young people as active agents of change in urban governance. Cities such as Querétaro (Mexico), Mymensingh (Bangladesh), Otavalo (Ecuador), and Cucuta and Armenia (Colombia) became testing grounds for innovative solutions to urban challenges like affordable housing, climate resilience, and participatory governance. These localized initiatives directly informed the global priorities embedded in the DeclarACTION.
The Children and Youth Assembly: A Platform for Youth and Local Leadership
The Children and Youth Assembly served as a vibrant platform for dialogue and collaboration, where youth leaders, urban experts, and policymakers engaged in meaningful discussions to shape a vision for resilient cities. Moderated by Joyati Das, Expert on Children and yYouth, the assembly celebrated youth agency in creating localized solutions to global urban challenges. Das emphasized, “This forum is not just about ideas—it’s about empowering young leaders to implement actionable solutions that impact their cities today.”
Youth leaders shared stories of their work at the grassroots level, highlighting the transformative potential of youth-led initiatives. Lenin Zambrano, Coordinator of the Otavalango One Stop Centre in Ecuador, remarked, “In Otavalo, we have learned to bridge generational gaps by combining indigenous traditions with innovative practices in housing and climate resilience. Local action can serve as a global model.”
Valerhim Pérez Uribe, representing youth in Armenia, Colombia, noted, “The strength of the DeclarACTION lies in its adaptability. What works in Armenia can inspire solutions in other cities worldwide. This global exchange of ideas amplifies the power of local action.”
The assembly also featured the official launch of the Global Youth DeclarACTION 2.0, a collaborative document that encapsulates youth priorities, including housing affordability, environmental resilience, and governance inclusion. Panelists agreed that the DeclarACTION is more than a policy framework; it is a roadmap for transformative urban change led by youth. The Global Youth DeclarACTION will be finalized in mid-December.
The Road to the World Urban Forum: Building the DeclarACTION
The adoption of the DeclarACTION was preceded by a series of milestones that shaped its vision and content. These milestones amplified youth voices at every stage of the process, providing platforms for them to articulate their aspirations and influence global urban governance frameworks.
The Global Youth Survey on Urban Sustainability
Launched on International Youth Day 2024, the DeclarACTION Global Survey (still open for those who wish to have their voice heard!!) engaged hundreds of respondents from over 25 countries and 50 cities globally. The survey identified eight key challenges, with affordable housing emerging as the most urgent issue. Respondents cited high rents, insecure housing arrangements, and limited access to financing as barriers to sustainable living. Other major concerns included inefficient public transport, lack of participatory governance, and widespread environmental degradation.
The survey provided a data-driven foundation for the DeclarACTION, ensuring that youth priorities were reflected in its framework.
Summit of the Future
The Summit of the Future, held in New York in September 2024, brought youth voices to the global stage. Contributions from youth influenced the Pact for the Future, a resolution that elevated youth leadership as central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Urban Agenda.
Urban October
Urban October featured two pivotal events:
- On World Habitat Day, youth-led discussions in Querétaro, Mexico, highlighted innovative financing models for affordable housing. Panelists stressed the need for public-private partnerships to address gaps in housing equity. The outcome document from WHD was the Querétaro DeclarACTION on Youth and Sustainable Urbanization.
- On World Cities Day, celebrated globally on October 31, youth showcased their contributions to public space rehabilitation, green infrastructure, and waste management.
The Future Generation Zone at WUF 12
The Future Generation Zone in Cairo was the focal point for youth activity during WUF 12. Over five days, youth leaders collaborated with urban experts to finalize the DeclarACTION 2.0. Sessions focused on building technical capacity, localizing the SDGs, and exploring innovative governance models. Valerhim Pérez Uribe, UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board stated that, “The Future Generation Zone was not just a meeting place—it was a workshop for crafting solutions that will define the future of cities.”
The Global Youth DeclarACTION 2.0: Priorities and Solutions
The DeclarACTION provides actionable solutions to the most pressing urban challenges:
- Affordable Housing: The DeclarACTION calls for rent-to-buy schemes, cooperative housing models, and youth-specific financing. These solutions aim to address financial and regulatory barriers while empowering youth as active participants in housing policymaking.
- Sustainable Public Transport: Investments in low-carbon transit systems are recommended to improve mobility and reduce urban congestion.
- Participatory Governance: The DeclarACTION emphasizes the institutionalization of youth advisory councils at municipal and national levels.
- Environmental Sustainability: Circular economy practices, green infrastructure, and sustainable waste management are highlighted as key strategies to address urban pollution.
- Accessible Public Spaces: The development of safe, inclusive spaces is prioritized to enhance cultural expression and community cohesion.
- Disaster Risk Reduction: Resilience-building measures are embedded into urban planning to address vulnerabilities to climate-induced disasters.
- Reducing Inequalities: The DeclarACTION calls for targeted investments in underserved areas and inclusive growth strategies to address systemic inequities.
- Safeguarding Cultural Heritage: The preservation of urban identities is seen as vital to fostering sustainable tourism and community pride.
Reflections from WUF 12
The adoption of the DeclarACTION at the closing of World Urban Forum 12 was a transformative moment. Elizabeth Espinosa, amember of the UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board, delivered a poignant closing statemen to the thousands of gather delegates emphasizing the need for intergenerational collaboration and youth-driven solutions.
“We are like the marsh straw that grows back after being pulled out. Together, we can create a future where every voice counts and every dream is achievable.”
Cairo Call to Action at the closing of the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12)
The closing ceremony saw the unveiling of the Cairo Call to Action, a document encapsulating key messages and ideas from the discussions. The Call issued a clear call for the “systemic representation of local actors at all levels”, The Call placed importance in ensuring access to all populations to basic services, including housing, infrastructure and public spaces, and called for the development of “caring cities” in which all populations including women, children, youth, persons with disabilities, indigenous groups and marginalised populations.
In support of the Cario Call, the Global Youth DeclarACTION on Sustainable Urbanization is a youth call to action addressing challenges such as housing, inequality, and climate resilience, the DeclarACTION provides a roadmap for inclusive urban futures.
For more information, visit the Youth 2030 Cities Initiative website.
