MMU Engages in International Dialogue at WUF13
MMU Organized Sessions within the Framework of WUF13
As part of WUF13, MMU took part in a range of sessions as an organizer, partner, and speaker. The discussions throughout the forum focused particularly on solutions to the housing crisis, multilevel governance mechanisms, inter-municipal cooperation, and resilient urban development policies.
The networking event “From Global Agendas to Local Action – Leveraging Multi-level Urban Forum for Resilient Housing Systems” explored how global urban agendas can be translated into local action and examined the role of multilevel urban forums in developing resilient housing systems.
The session “When Housing Brings Cities Together: Local Cooperation in Practice” focused on collaborative models developed by local governments around housing policies and highlighted practices that strengthen knowledge exchange among cities.
The session “Housing for Freedom: Territorial Pact for the 21st Century – Towards a UN Resolution on the Metropolitan Right to Housing” underscored the importance of addressing the right to housing at the metropolitan scale.
These sessions brought together local government representatives, international organizations, and experts from different countries, providing a platform to exchange experiences and discuss opportunities for cooperation in addressing the common challenges faced by cities.
Local and International Meetings Held During WUF13
During WUF13, MBB held a series of meetings with local government representatives, international organizations and decision-makers from Türkiye and various countries. These exchanges focused on intercity cooperation, metropolitan governance, housing policies and the role of local governments within international networks.
The Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Mr. Murat Kurum, Deputy Minister Mr. Ömer Bulut, and the Ambassador of Türkiye to Baku, Mr. Birol Akgün, visited Marmara Municipalities Union (MMU) booth at the World Urban Forum (WUF13) and received information about the activities and ongoing work of MARUF and MMU.
Discussions were also held regarding the preparation process and potential collaborations for the EMA Forum (European Metropolitan Authorities Forum), which will be organized by Marmara Municipalities Union in cooperation with the Barcelona Metropolitan Area in Istanbul on 7–8 October 2026.
Strong Interest in the MARUF and MMU Booth
Located in the Urban Expo area of WUF13, the MARUF and MMU booth welcomed numerous visitors from different countries throughout the forum. The booth served as a platform to share information about MMU’s activities, capacity-building programmes for local governments, publications, and regional cooperation initiatives, while also introducing MARUF’s approach and future plans to international participants.
Beyond being an information point, the booth also functioned as an active meeting space that encouraged interaction and exchange among participants. Through Kahoot quizzes and other interactive activities organized during the forum, visitors from different cities had the opportunity to connect and share experiences.
Over the course of six days, WUF13 brought together stakeholders working at different scales to discuss the future of cities and provided an important international platform for reflecting on the role of local governments in addressing global urban challenges.
