Housing practitioners across Africa have reaffirmed their collective commitment to collaborate in addressing challenges facing the real estate industry.
The decision was taken during the African International Housing Show held in Abuja recently, which communique was made available to Nigerian Tribune on Sunday in Lagos.
In their deliberations, they highlighted the urgent need for enhanced regulatory frameworks, the importance of ethical standards in real estate transactions, and the role of technology in modernizing the housing sector.
The participants emphasized the necessity of collaboration among all stakeholders, including government bodies, professional associations, and the private sector, to ensure sustainable growth and equitable access to housing.
“We are dedicated to working together to ensure the transparency, inclusivity, and sustainability of the housing sector across the continent,” the communique read.
Themed: “Financing the Housing We Need,” the forum emphasized the urgent need for sustainable, innovative, and accessible housing solutions in response to Africa’s rapidly growing population and urbanization.
The stakeholders called for immediate action towards the collection and regulation of accurate housing data by relevant governmental and professional bodies to ensure informed decision-making in the housing sector.
They also called for institutional reforms to address the systemic issues in property titling, foreclosure laws, and construction costs, to create an environment conducive to sustainable housing finance.
The communique read: “ We call for a concerted effort to address gender inequality in the housing sector through advocacy, policy revision, and the promotion of gender-inclusive initiatives at both grassroots and national levels.
“For the adoption of a diversified approach to housing development that includes upgrading existing slums and creating tailored housing solutions for different demographics, recognizing the unique needs of various communities.”
The participants also requested the integration of innovative technologies, green building materials, and smart design into housing projects across Africa, adding that governments and the private sector must work together to implement advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and green finance models, ensuring that housing solutions are not only affordable but also future-proof.
They urged all stakeholders in the African housing sector to prioritise the use of locally available building materials and sustainable construction practices to reduce costs, enhance long-term affordability, and contribute to the environmental sustainability of communities.
They urged stronger public-private partnerships, cooperative housing initiatives, and targeted lobbying efforts to influence government policies to support affordable housing and a more supportive business environment for housing finance while encouraging governments, financial institutions, and private investors to collaborate in providing guarantees, insurance, and subsidies.
This tripartite approach—investment capital, construction capital, and end-user finance, they noted was critical for making affordable housing accessible to all.
“ We call for strategic interventions to leverage the economic potential of housing, particularly through the development of policies that encourage investment in both rental and ownership options, ensuring that all Africans have access to decent shelter.
We call for AIHS and other stakeholders to engage directly with policymakers, including legislative bodies, to advocate for the prioritization of housing as a critical component of national development strategies,” the communique read.
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