The World Urban Forum (WUF) coordinated by the UN-Habitat was held in Abu Dhabi from the 8th-13th of February 2020 with the theme ‘Cities of opportunities – Connecting Culture and Innovation’; WUF is one of the largest gatherings of urban and real estate professionals in the world. It featured government officials, policymakers and professionals from all across the world in high-level dialogue series on how to move the New Urban Agenda forward.
SHAF used the opportunity to engage with its shareholders and stakeholders and on the 10th of February it held a Side Event titled ‘Opportunities and Challenges to Catalysing Affordable Housing in Africa’. The side event discussed the collaboration between Shelter Afrique and Habitat for Humanity to mobilise/increase access to housing loans for low–middle-income households in Africa. The side event was well attended, and it attracted several African ministers and other key stakeholders in the African policy and practice of affordable housing and urban development. Shelter Afrique also held an Investor Relations Cocktail for its Shareholders and Stakeholders on the evening of the 10th of February.
Key Deliverables of the side event include but are not limited to:
- Sharing knowledge and learnings around the financial needs of households pursuing owner-driven construction and financial system constraints on affordable housing for low-income, urban families in Africa
- Inspiring private-sector players to invest in affordable housing as a sustainable and scalable business opportunity
- Enhancing investments for catalytic impact targeting shelter and resilience
- Convening to showcase Shelter Afrique’s impact and future strategies, in terms of its projects and related products and services that support the delivery of affordable housing and urban development in Africa
- Serving as a platform to discuss Shelter Afrique’s partnerships and engagement strategies with its member states and other shareholders towards enabling Africa to achieve its affordable housing