The summit, taking place from 4 to 8 November 2024, is an initiative of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, that unites international delegates, including government ministers, to deliberate on collaborative governance approaches for the Sustainable Development Goals set for 2030.

Professor Sijekula Mbanga, Chairperson of Human Settlement at Nelson Mandela University, highlighted the forum's significance for South Africa in addressing the challenges of swift urban growth and its impact on society, the economy, and community cohesion.

Professor Mbanga emphasised the importance of the summit as a learning platform, stating, "With rapid urbanisation, we aim to use this conference to understand how nations facing similar challenges are responding through their macro policies. We intend to integrate these insights into our Integrated Urban Development Framework. More crucially, we will apply these lessons to implement the new white paper that has been a focal point of national discourse."

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--