Mark Roberts, a World Bank Senior Economist, emphasized the necessity of urbanization for development at the World Urban Forum in Baku. He highlighted the immense investment needed for urban infrastructure in Africa and the importance of diverse financing sources. While Roberts sees urbanization as an opportunity for economic growth, others, like Dr. Moges Tadesse from Addis Ababa, warn of the challenges posed by rapid urban growth, including inequality and environmental issues. The forum aims to address these challenges and produce a supportive document for the UN's New Urban Agenda.