Discussion Paper: Building a Regional Support Initiative for Housing Microfinance

Rooftops Canada, the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa, and Habitat for Humanity International have been partners in the development of a sub- Saharan housing microfinance sector since 2008, following two housing microfinance workshops, held in Dar es Salaam in 2008 and Nairobi in 2010. Over 200 people from more than 15 African countries and ten other countries participated in these workshops. A key concern raised by participants has been how to build on the momentum of these and ensure that a strong housing microfinance sector emerges to support good housing outcomes for the vast unserved population of the region. Our three organizations are pursuing the mandate placed upon us by the second workshop participants to respond to this concern.

This discussion paper is the next step in the process to strengthen the emerging housing microfinance industry. It is intended for review and comment by interested stakeholders as part of a wider consultation process to develop the housing microfinance sector. Stakeholders will be invited to consultation workshops in at least seven countries – Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The results will be gathered together into a document for discussion for a small representative two-day workshop to be held in Nairobi in early 2012, to finalize a regional initiative program document.