This year’s African Union for Housing Finance Virtual Conference will take place under the theme, “Investing in the SDGs: Finding a market opportunity in affordable housing”.
While housing is explicitly articulated in Target 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is a key component of sustainable development across all of the goals. Good housing drives access to basic services, contributes towards inclusive growth, and supports the development of a sustainable future, with a direct impact on the factors that contribute or mediate the effects of climate change. Investment in affordable housing will therefore have a profound and direct impact on at least 14 of the SDGs.
As Africa drives its housing agenda forward, the AUHF Virtual Conference will provide an agenda for debate that promotes market growth and opportunities in green development, infrastructure building, services, job and inclusive economic growth.
This session will focus on successful and ground breaking examples of affordable housing initiatives across Africa, interrogating how developers were able to achieve their SDG ambitions while also realising effective investment outcomes. The keynote address “Housing Investment and the SDGs” will capture the opportunity for investment and explore opportunities for private sector players to work with government in achieving sustainable housing outcomes.
Housing impacts on five of the basic services-related SDGs, impacting profoundly on the health and well-being of households. With urban and home-based agriculture, it provides a base for realising food security. Good accommodation can enhance the performance of school children, improving their ability to access quality education. Access to clean water and sanitation is secured at the household level through the delivery of good, affordable housing. Increasing access to affordable housing finance builds the economic infrastructure in support of productive housing markets for all. This session will explore initiatives that are achieving SDG outcomes in terms of access to basic services.
Housing builds asset wealth, enables job creation through home-based businesses, supports economic growth, and facilitates financial intermediation. A functioning housing market has a positive impact on growth as it enables municipal revenue collection, supporting sustainable cities, etc. This session will include presentations and panel discussions that to consider the impact of housing on the economy, while making policy recommendations for an improved investment environment.
With the challenge of climate change, more housing stakeholders are shifting their focus to more environmentally friendly housing construction and servicing techniques. Housing finance also provides new incentives for a greener housing sector through green financing products. The use of renewable energy, sustainable sanitation, and sustainable building materials all contribute to the realisation of the SGDs at the household level. This session will showcase initiatives in which housing investment is providing for a sustainable future.
The housing market operates in an environment where every element of the value chain from access to land, land servicing, laws, and regulation to end-user finance are all critical for its development. With the additional threat and challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to strengthen the links in the value chain with targeted initiatives. This session will discuss housing market development initiatives underway across Africa, considering their performance in the face of the pandemic, and how to best support the development of African housing markets post-pandemic.
Initiate contact with attendees and engage with stakeholders
Discuss the topical issues in an informal setting
Engage with Africa’s leading brands in our innovative virtual sponsored expo area