Gulshan Rzayeva: Financial support is key to solving housing crisis

Mixed financing, stronger participation of development banks, and support from international financial institutions for rental housing provision play a crucial role in resolving the housing crisis, Gulshan Rzayeva, Deputy Head of the Apparatus of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture and Deputy National Coordinator of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku, said at the event titled "The Global Housing Crisis: What is the Plan?" organized within the framework of WUF13.

Report quotes her as saying innovations in housing financing are also of great importance: "Mixed financing, stronger participation of development banks, and support from international financial institutions for rental housing provision help expand accessibility. Of course, digital innovations, application of technologies, and new advanced construction methods also open new ways for faster, greener, and more efficient delivery of housing. Thus, these are matters that we can look at as opportunities."

She emphasized that every stakeholder, every partner in the urban ecosystem has their own role: "While governments provide the strategic framework through national housing strategies, land use planning, and other matters, the private sector brings scale, innovation, and investments to implement these policies. Undoubtedly, civil society also plays a major role in this regard, because they work directly with communities. They hear their needs and demands. When they are supported with appropriate regulations and incentives, they can help communities more in obtaining affordable housing."