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 WUF12'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
