NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 25 – Pan-African housing financier Shelter Afrique and the DRC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to scale up affordable housing projects.
The company will provide part-funding for identified projects while also acting as the lead arranger for the syndication of additional funding.
It will also provide technical and advisory assistance to institutions under the ministry of urban planning and housing, such as the Congolese Agency for Property Development (ACOPRIM), the National Housing Fund (FONHAB), and the Single Window, GUICHET UNIQUE, to implement large-scale affordable housing projects countrywide.
“The MoU we’ve signed with Shelter Afrique opens a new phase of Partnership and will be crucial in achieving our housing goal, as well contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals,” Shelter Afrique Managing Director Thierno Habib Hann said after signing a dela with the DRC Minister of Urban Planning and Housing, Pius Maubilu Mbayu Makala.
Last year, Shelter Afrique extended a $18.5 million commercial loan to Katanga based real estate development company, Maison Super Development (MSD).
Shelter-Afrique is a pan-African housing finance and development institution established by African governments to address the need for a sustainable housing delivery system and related infrastructure projects in Africa.
The institution provides financial solutions and related services to support the supply and demand sides of the affordable housing value chain. It also provides advisory and project management services for large-scale affordable housing projects.
This project will assist the DRC government in developing an in-depth assessment of its real estate market.
“We have redefined our overriding strategy as a company, which is now more focused on the provision of low-cost affordable houses across our member States through public-private partnerships,” Hann said.
“This MoU with the Government of DRC will be key in expanding our projects across DRC and the continent.”
Araka Allan
