June 7 - As part of their preparations for Habitat II, thirty African states met in Bamako, Mali, last week (May 28-29) at the 15th Annual General Meeting of the Company for Habitat and Housing in Africa (Shelter-Afrique) to consider, inter-alia, the status of human settlements and housing in Africa and to develop housing investment strategies for the next five years. The countries are represented at HABITAT II in Istanbul by their national delegations as well as a high level delegation from Shelter-Afrique. The company is jointly owned by 37 African Governments, the African Development Bank, African Reinsurance Corporation and Commonwealth Development Corporation.
Over the last 10 years, Shelter-Afrique has co-financed shelter and related projects in a number of countries including Kenya, the Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Guinea, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, and Nigeria. These projects, which are financed through loans, are targeted at low-income and middle-income households and have helped thousands of African families not only to build or purchase their own homes but also to gain access to essential services such as water, sanitation, schools and health centers. Previously homeless and landless families in cities as far away as Kampala or Conakry have, through Shelter-Afrique efforts, managed to become property-owners and gain a foothold in the formal economy.
By working in collaboration with national governments, local communities, local authorities and the private sector it was possible to make significant improvements in the living conditions of the families concerned.
Over the next five years, Shelter-Afrique expects to invest over US dollars 100 million in various projects in the urban sector. This initiative is designed to attract additional private sector and international resources so as to achieve a significant impact on post-Istanbul efforts.
From its headquarters in Nairobi, the company oversees the design and implementation of a project pipeline of some sixty projects. It takes great care to ensure that local professionals, suppliers and contractors are actively involved in all stages of project development, so as to build local capacity and also extend project benefits as widely as possible. Training has in the past been provided for African professionals in a variety of skills ranging from management to mortgage administration. In fact, the need for competent housing finance professionals is so great that existing training facilities in Africa cannot cope with the demand.
In his statement to the HABITAT II Plenary, the Managing Director Papa Mbaye recalled the Company’s active participation and contribution in the preparatory process and stressed the Company’s commitment to the post-Istanbul implementation process. Shelter-Afrique had maintained close consultation with African governments at the preparatory meetings held in Nairobi, Dakar, Kampala, Brazzaville and Johannesburg. The Managing Director also called upon all African countries which were not yet members to join Shelter-Afrique at the earliest opportunity.
The Company realizes that expansion of shelter development and delivery in Africa is hampered not only by the scarcity of financial resources but also by the absence of vital information on socio-economic conditions as well as the availability of land, infrastructure and services. To that end, it has jointly with ECA sponsored the preparation of a Continental Shelter Atlas for Africa and a Regional Report on the State of Human Settlements in Africa. The atlas provides member states with key data and indicators on shelter and related socio-economic conditions. It will assist all actors in the public and private sectors, voluntary and women’s groups to focus their efforts towards improving human settlements in Africa and make adequate shelter available for all.
REGIONAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF HUMAN
SETTLEMENTS IN AFRICA, 10TH JUNE , 1996
15.00 - Introductory Remarks by the Chairperson for the event
Hon. T. S. Mangwazu, Minister of Housing, Malawi.
15.05 - Remarks by Consultants’ Team Leader
15.15 - Statement by the Managing Director of Shelter-Afrique
15.20 - Presentation of the report to the Secretary General, Habitat II.
15.25 - Statement by the Secretary General
15.35 - End of Ceremony