WUF12, Faith, & Urban Development
Collaborating with global faith-leaders on the intersection of faith and urban development at the inaugural WUF Faith Pavilion.
Faith Pavilion's Call to Action at WUF12
UN-Habitat 12th World Urban Forum
Cairo, Egypt
November 4 - 8, 2024
The Faith Pavilion, a multi-faith initiative by Faith for Cities and its partners, made its historic debut at UN-Habitat’s 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, Egypt, November 4-8, 2024. Built on a decade of collaboration and trust-building with diverse faith communities and UN-Habitat, the Faith Pavilion draws on participatory experience at Habitat III and WUF 9, 10, and 11, along with active participation in UN-Habitat's World Urban Campaign.
With approximately 84% of the global population identifying with a faith or spiritual belief, there is growing recognition that UN-Habitat’s urgent call for a “whole-of-society” approach to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must include religious communities and faith-based organizations. This practical call for robust “whole of society” collaboration mirrors the 2017 Singapore Declaration[i] that stated, “the inclusion of germane faith-based perspectives, and working relationships with faith-based organizations co-committed to the common good, are necessary to the success of the New Urban Agenda.”
Most of the world’s faiths strongly resonate with WUF12’s theme “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities,” making 2024 the perfect time for faith-based organizations to host a Faith Pavilion at a World Urban Forum. The purpose of the Faith Pavilion is to be a space where religious and non-religious communities and practitioners can meet, share, learn, and build partnerships, united in the shared mission of localizing the SDGs for the common good.
The Faith Pavilion’s approach to multi-faith collaboration is founded on covenantal pluralism[ii], which means supporting diverse faith communities in maintaining their unique identities while working together to build sustainable, inclusive cities. We summarize this perspective as “rooted and linked,” firmly rooted in one’s own faith tradition yet deeply respectful of other traditions, and open and eager to connect with others for collective action.
The Faith Pavilion at WUF12 introduces the first dedicated space for people of faith and faith communities at a World Urban Forum, though faith-based organizations and religious influence have long been integral to urban development efforts. Faith-driven organizations - groups inspired by religious values and perspectives - have consistently participated in these forums and worked alongside UN-Habitat. Likewise, many individuals guided by personal faith have engaged in World Urban Forums through their roles in government, the private sector, NGOs, and civil society. The Faith Pavilion highlights the rich diversity, reach, and impact of faith-based engagement in urban development, supporting these organizations and individuals while sharing their stories. By creating this Faith Pavilion, WUF12 fosters a growing, diverse coalition of faith-based partners collaborating with UN-Habitat to advance sustainable urban development.
The Faith Pavilion has sparked great enthusiasm and momentum among faith leaders and faith-based organizations dedicated to advancing the SDGs and fostering inclusive, thriving cities. Building on this energy, a faith-based Urban Thinkers Campus[iii] is being planned for 2025. A key part of the agenda will focus on organizing another Faith Pavilion at WUF13 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
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Build Partnerships: Foster collaboration between faith-based, governmental, and civil society entities through mutual trust and understanding, paving the way for effective urban partnerships.
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Build on the capacity of Faith Leaders and Faith-Based Organizations around the New Urban Agenda and SDGs: Equip faith leaders and faith-based organizations with the knowledge to interpret the New Urban Agenda and SDGs through the lens of faith, inspiring action within their communities. In turn, build the awareness of civil society leaders and organizations on ways faith communities are already engaging the New Urban Agenda and the SDGs.
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Consult on Best Practices for Building Trust: Facilitate dialogue among faith-based, governmental, and civil society organizations to share effective strategies for trust-building and collaboration, fostering partnerships grounded in mutual understanding and shared goals.
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Develop Faith-Based Action Plans: Encourage faith communities to design actionable, locally focused plans that align with urban sustainability efforts, fostering both individual and collaborative action.
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Support Faith-Based Statements on Sustainability: Encourage faith communities to engage with and develop statements endorsing the New Urban Agenda and SDGs linking spiritual values with sustainability.
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Multi-Faith Collaboration on Short and Long Term Projects: Engage local faith communities in specific, short and long term projects to achieve New Urban Agenda goals, demonstrating the power of focused multi-faith action.
Conclusion: Faith-Based Contributions to a Sustainable Urban Future
The Faith Pavilion at WUF12 underscored the essential role of spiritual values and faith community engagement in advancing the New Urban Agenda and SDGs. Grounding their actions in spiritual values and collaborating across traditions, religious communities bring invaluable contributions to building a sustainable and inclusive urban future for all.
Addendum: The WUF12 Cairo Call to Action by UN-Habitat (Added Nov. 19, 2024)
Following the conclusion of WUF12 on Monday, November 11th, UN-Habitat issued the “Cairo Call to Action: It All Starts at Home—Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities.”
The Faith Pavilion recognizes the importance of the WUF12 Cairo Call to Action[iv], fully supports the statement, endorses and commends it to faith leaders, institutions, and communities worldwide.
In particular, we highlight the Cairo Call to Action’s alignment with the United Nations’ recent Pact for the Future[v] (September 2024), which states in Action 55 (emphasis added):
We recognize the importance of the United Nations’ engagement with national parliaments and relevant stakeholders, while preserving the intergovernmental character of the Organization. The challenges we face require cooperation not only across borders but across all sectors of society. Our efforts must involve Governments as well as parliaments, the United Nations system and other international institutions, local authorities, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, business and the private sector, faith-based organizations, the scientific and academic communities, and all people to ensure an effective response to our common challenges.
This call for inclusive collaboration resonates deeply with UN-Habitat’s acknowledgment that achieving the objectives of the Cairo Call to Action demands “effective participation and collaboration of all relevant stakeholders . . .”
In this spirit, the Faith Pavilion reiterates its dedication to advancing the New Urban Agenda, the WUF12 Cairo Call to Action, and our own Cairo Faith Pavilion Call to Action. With a collaborative mindset, we extend a hand of partnership to UN-Habitat and all organizations committed to these shared goals. Together, we look forward to a future defined by effective, cooperative actions between faith-based organizations, UN-Habitat, and other organizations and agencies co-committed to the pursuit of sustainable cities and thriving communities for all.
[i] The Singapore Declaration was made by the participants of a UN-Habitat World Urban Campaign Faith-Based Urban Thinkers Campus (UTC) convened in Singapore. It was the first faith-based UTC.
[ii] As explored in The Routledge Handbook of Religious Literacy, Pluralism and Global Engagement, covenantal pluralism is a framework for fostering mutual respect, and collaboration among diverse groups, encouraging open engagement while allowing individuals to live by their own beliefs within a shared commitment to the common good. To learn more go to the Templeton Religion Trust’s Covenantal Pluralism Initiative at https://templetonreligiontrust.org/areas-of-focus/covenantal-pluralism
[iii] Urban Thinkers Campuses are an initiative of the UN-Habitat’s World Urban Campaign: https://www.worldurbancampaign.org/urban-thinkers-campus[iv] Read the WUF12 Cairo Call to Action at the embedded link or at this link https://www.faithforcities.org/_files/ugd/910fbb_c60c27feb0af4d2c8527ce0b9996b159.pdf
[v] Read the Pact for the Future at the embedded link or at this link https://www.faithforcities.org/_files/ugd/910fbb_43e8a50d0847428db0e52f130296736a.pdf
Faith Pavilion
UN-Habitat 12th World Urban Forum
WUF12 @ Cairo, Egypt
November 4 - 8, 2024
The Faith Pavilion at WUF12’s Urban Expo will serve as a dynamic space that highlights the essential role of Religion, and faith-based organizations (FBOs) and faith leaders in addressing urban challenges. With the growing complexity of urbanization and the increasing need for inclusive and sustainable solutions, the Faith Pavilion provides a platform for sharing how religious communities contribute to urban development, social cohesion, sustainable development.
The World Urban Forum (WUF) was established in 2001 by the United Nations to address one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.
Convened by UN-Habitat, the Forum is a high level, open and inclusive platform for addressing the challenges of sustainable urbanization.
The World Urban Forum has the following objectives:
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Raising awareness of sustainable urbanization among stakeholders and constituencies, including the general public.
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Improving collective knowledge on sustainable urban development through open and inclusive debate, exchange of best practices and policies, and sharing of lessons learnt.
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Promote collaboration and cooperation between different stakeholders and constituencies engaged in the advancement and implementation of sustainable urbanization.
For more information go to the WUF12 website.
WUF 12 Background Paper
Background Paper for WUF12
3 Steps to join the Faith Pavilion
Religious Alignment with WIF12's Theme and 6 Focus Areas
Religions, by their very nature, are deeply committed to the wellbeing of people and communities, making them key stakeholders in the future of cities and urban development. The concerns of Religions and faith-based organizations, therefore, overlap with the common good focus of UN-Habitat's mission and the purpose of WUF12 which has as its official theme “It all starts at home: local actions for sustainable cities and communities.” This theme emphasizes “local actions and initiatives required to curb the current global challenges affecting the daily life of people, including unaffordable housing, rising living costs, climate change, the lack of basic services, and ongoing conflicts.”
WUF12, therefore, is a global forum where religious traditions, leaders, and organizations have a vital role to play representing their constituents, expressing their unique perspectives and priorities, sharing the contributions religions make to cities and urban development, and where we can extend a hand of collaboration to good-will partners for the common cause of building just, beautiful, sustainable, safe, inclusive, productive, and equitable cites for all.
Among the six focus areas of WUF12, one stands out as particularly inviting for faith-based participation: Focus Area 3, “Stronger Together.” This focus area highlights the importance of partnerships that bridge global goals with local realities and emphasizes the power of collaboration in driving localized progress. Faith-based organizations and leaders are uniquely positioned to engage in this dialogue, contributing their perspectives, experiences, and capacities to the shared goal of making cities, towns, and neighborhoods places of thriving for all.
It all starts at home:
local actions for sustainable cities and communities.
Key Focus Areas
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Showcasing successful case studies where faith communities have driven positive urban change, such as housing solutions, community resilience, and poverty reduction.
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Creating a space for dialogue on innovation, where religious institutions can collaborate with civic and private sectors to solve urban problems.
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Providing a platform for multi-faith capacity building, where religious leaders and organizations can enhance heir ability to engage with and support urban development initiatives.
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Promoting covenantal pluralism as a model for interfaith engagement in urban contexts, fostering cooperation and shared responsibility across religious boundaries. Simply described, covenantal pluralism expresses a mode whereby different religious traditions intentionally collaborate for the common good while optimizing effectiveness and impact, i.e., “linked” while respecting the autonomy and uniqueness of each faith tradition and community, i.e., “rooted.”
Goals of the Faith Pavilion
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Raise Awareness
Increase understanding of how FBOs play a pivotal role in addressing urban challenges such as housing, social cohesion, and climate resilience. This will be achieved through case studies, interactive displays, and expert panels.
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Promote Multi-Faith Capacity Building
Organize workshops and training sessions aimed at strengthening the ability of FBOs to engage in urban planning and development processes, with an emphasis on collaboration and practical application.
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Highlight Innovation
Emphasize the need for innovative thinking in urban development, particularly how faith communities, with their resources and social capital, can be partners in creating sustainable, liveable cities.
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Facilitate Dialogue
Foster cross-sector conversations that bring together faith leaders, urban planners, government officials, and private sector stakeholders to discuss innovative, faith-driven solutions to urban problems.
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Network Building
Create opportunities for stakeholders to connect, exchange ideas, and explore partnerships that can extend beyond the forum. Encourage long-term collaboration between faith-based and secular organizations.
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Showcase Success Stories
Present tangible examples of how faith-based communities have successfully partnered with civic organizations to tackle key issues in cities, inspiring others to consider similar approaches.
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Inspire Policy and Action
Organize workshops and training sessions aimed at strengthening the ability of FBOs to engage in urban planning and development processes, with an emphasis on collaboration and practical application.
Why is pastor Jacob going to WUF12?
At WUF12, I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to make faith visible on the expo floor. During WUF10, I discovered that every participant, regardless of their religious background, was motivated by their beliefs—whether in themselves, humanity, or a higher power. These faiths shaped not only their worldviews but also their visions for the future of our cities. In interviews with participants from various faith traditions, they expressed how their beliefs drove their work in urban development, highlighting the deep connection between faith and action.
For example, during WUF10, a participant working for the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies shared how his faith inspired him to engage in collaborative, multifaith urban projects. Similarly, others spoke of how their religious traditions encouraged values like justice, unity, and compassion, all of which are essential in building sustainable cities.
This year, at WUF12, faith will be on display even more prominently through the Faith Pavilion. I encourage faith leaders and organizations to join this unprecedented opportunity and contribute to the global dialogue on sustainable cities.
Jacob Bloemberg
Founder, Love Your City
Lead Pastor, Hanoi International Fellowship
