The aim of my paper is to critically analyze the potential of the World Urban Forum (WUF) for education for sustainable development through the prism of academic contribution and cross-sectoral cooperation. Based on the analysis of the literature on the subject and qualitative research. I address the motivation and capacity, as well as social and physical opportunities to undertake such activities. I describe the personal and material scope of education for sustainable urban development. The final conclusions focus on the lesson learned from the WUF for ESD. The analysis of the WUF covers different rationales for the key issue relates to cross-sectoral cooperation, with Political Administration and Academia as leading players. The main conclusion concerns their motivations for collaboration. When motivations relate to similar resources (like prestige), the risk of competition increases. When motivations relate to different resources—held by one party and in demand by the other (like financial resources), then the skills to negotiate, define common goals and rules for sharing resources become crucial. I argue, that WUF can be seen as a forum supporting evidence-based policy, but also practice-based education, offering a database of case studies for ESD.