Perhaps the most critical issue facing housing markets worldwide, whether in established or emerging markets, is housing affordability.  Easily associated with developing economies in Africa, South Asia, and Central and South America, the housing affordability challenge is increasingly evident and articulated in the deeper housing markets of Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America.  Housing finance is an important enabler of affordability.  We expect, therefore, that the design of housing finance products and services is responsive to the needs and capacities of the target market.  It is in this that the challenge lies: labour market dynamics, urbanisation, climate change and a range of other demographic factors all impact profoundly on the shape and size of the target market, offering opportunities for new markets while constraining those that existing products serve.  The target market is changing – can housing finance respond appropriately?

This year’s conference will explore the challenge of housing affordability as it is being expressed across the globe.  Organised across a series of themes, the presentations will articulate the detail of the affordability challenge while also providing case studies of innovation and success.  Speakers will be drawn from the body of the AUHF, as well as from across the world, bringing global expertise to this question of housing affordability.

This year’s African Union for Housing Finance Conference under the theme, “Realising Affordability in Global Housing Markets” will be a Joint AUHF & IUHF Conference and AGM: Incorporating the 35th Annual AUHF Conference & AGM and the 31^st International Union for Housing Finance (IUHF) World Congress.  The conference has been growing every year in size, content and reputation.  This year, through the partnership with the IUHF, the conference reach will reflect content and experience from across the world and is expected to draw in a much wider international profile of delegates.

The African Union for Housing Finance is a member-based association of mortgage banks, building societies, housing corporations and other organisations involved in the mobilisation of funds for shelter and housing on the African continent. Established in 1984, the AUHF currently has 45 members across 17 countries in Africa.

The AUHF has a vision of an enabled and productive housing finance sector across Africa where governments and the private sector work together to develop and maintain efficient and effective housing markets and access to adequate and affordable housing for all.

The mission of the AUHF is to support its members in realising their vision, through networking and investor access, information and data collection and dissemination, lobbying and advocacy, capacity building and training, and member showcasing.

For further information on the AUHF, please click here.

Established in 1914, the International Union for Housing Finance (IUHF) is a worldwide housing finance network organisation which enables its members to:

1. 1. keep up-to-date with the latest developments in housing finance from around the world; and
   2. learn from each other’s experience.

The Union covers 49 different countries through its 108 members, which range from national banking associations or mortgage lending institutions to independent consultants, academics, government agencies and international institutions specialised in housing finance.

Being an international body, the Union is not a lobbying organisation, thus its members do not sign-up to any agreed common policy positions in the name of the Union.

For further information on the IUHF, please click here.