Bridging the Gap: Housing Finance and Policy

Cities are built the way they are financed, and the gap is visible. Unequal development persists across African cities. This presentation sets out some of the key issues that policy makers and practitioners are grappling with across the continent. Massive housing backlogs can be overwhelming, but if we think about affordability in terms of product price, household income, and the nature of finance that applies, can we diversify our approaches and estimate the growth opportunity differently, to promote increased engagement? The presentation considers the five stories that characterise Africa’s housing finance markets in 2015/16 and explores how practitioners can bridge the gap in housing finance and policy. This presentation was delivered by the Executive Director of CAHF, Kecia Rust on 19 July 2016.