On 11 December, marking International Mountain Day, the Embassy of Switzerland, in partnership with UN-Habitat’s Azerbaijan Country Office and the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SCUPA), co-organized the conference “From the Alps to the Caucasus: Resilient Futures in Mountainous Regions – Regional Urban Settlements as Sustainable Drivers.”
Organized under the Azerbaijan Urban Campaign 2026, the conference formed part of Azerbaijan’s national mobilisation towards the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13). It contributed to advancing policy dialogue on inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban development in mountainous regions, while positioning regional and small urban settlements as key drivers of territorial development. The event brought together policymakers, practitioners and experts from Switzerland, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Opening remarks by Guy Bonvin (Swiss Embassy in Azerbaijan), Ramil Cahangirov (SCUPA) and Anna Soave (UN-Habitat Azerbaijan) underscored the Azerbaijan Urban Campaign’s role as a platform for partnership, knowledge exchange and international cooperation in support of WUF13 priorities.
The keynote address by Thomas Egger, Director of the Swiss Association for Mountain Regions, shared Switzerland’s long-standing experience in mountain development, highlighting policy frameworks, practical tools and locally grounded solutions responding to the needs of mountain communities.
Discussions focused on sustainable economic development, climate adaptation, connectivity, agriculture and strengthened linkages between mountain settlements and regional centres. By fostering exchange between the Alps and the Caucasus, the conference reinforced the Azerbaijan Urban Campaign’s objective of translating global urban agendas into concrete national and regional action in the lead-up to WUF13.
Over 35 participants attended the morning sessions, with 15 joining the afternoon working group for in-depth discussions. The event strengthened cooperation between international, regional, and national partners, creating new networks to support resilient mountain development. Participants contributed valuable inputs that will feed into a thematic roadmap for WUF13, while priority policy recommendations were drafted for a dedicated chapter of Azerbaijan’s National Urban Policy (NUP). Plans were also developed for the Caucasus Mountain Settlements ‘Call to Action’, set to be launched at WUF13, and a proposal was prepared for a side event at the Forum and/or in the Azerbaijan Pavilion. These outcomes reflect Azerbaijan’s commitment to translating global urban agendas into local action and advancing sustainable, resilient futures for mountain communities.