The following is an excerpt from an interview with HIC-HLRN coordinator Joseph Schechla at World Urban Forum 13.
The 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) is encouraging Egyptian civil society to become more actively involved in urban development, Joseph Schechla, the coordinator of the Habitat International Coalition`s Housing and Land Rights Network (HIC-HLRN), told Report on the sidelines of WUF13 in Baku.
The speaker said he participated in most of the sessions and praised the level of preparation for the event.
"The forum was organized at a very high level. Naturally, the hosts showed exceptional hospitality. As someone participating in this forum for the first time, I also noticed the strong influence of private sector interests," he shared his impressions.
Joseph Schechla noted that WUF13 also raises new challenges for Egypt, where he resides.
He stated that the forum promotes the involvement of civil society in urban development processes, as these structures are closer to the people, better understand real problems, and should be involved in decision-making.
Photo: Joseph Schechla being interviewed in the Habitat Expo. Source: Report.
