Ahmed Dangiwa, housing and urban development minister, has been elected as the inaugural chairperson of the Financial Caucus of African Ministers of Housing and Urban Development.
This was made known in a statement by Mark Chieshe, the special assistant on media & strategy to the minister, on Monday.
The decision was made by shareholders of Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) during the institution’s 43rd annual general meeting and symposium, held in Kigali, Rwanda, from June 11 to 13, 2024.
The Caucus of African Ministers of Housing and Urban Development, an initiative proposed by Dangiwa during his tenure as the 42nd chair of the bank’s annual general meeting bureau, was officially approved and launched on June 13, during the annual general meeting.
The Caucus aims to provide a collaborative platform for African ministers to share knowledge and develop policies and financing strategies for sustainable and affordable housing solutions.
By leveraging the collective strength and unique experiences of member countries, the Caucus seeks to address Africa’s common housing challenges effectively.
The Caucus will facilitate dialogue and information sharing, promoting best practices in housing policy, regulation, and implementation.
It will help identify common challenges and opportunities in the housing sector, develop effective strategies for collective action, and explore ways to mobilize resources and expertise from international partners, private sector stakeholders, and development organisations.
The Caucus, according to Chieshe, will serve as a continental advocacy platform to prioritise housing issues among national governments, bilateral and multilateral institutions.
In response to his election, Dangiwa expressed enthusiasm for the establishment of the Caucus, highlighting its potential to accelerate progress towards inclusive and sustainable housing development in Africa.
“I am excited that the shareholders not only considered and approved the establishment of the Caucus, which I proposed but also went on to appoint me to lead it as the inaugural chair. I pledge to give it my best. By fostering collaboration, promoting innovation, and mobilizing resources, we can transform our continent’s housing landscape and significantly improve the quality of life for millions of our citizens,” he stated.
The expected outcomes included enhanced collaboration and knowledge exchange leading to innovative housing policies and strategies, increased investments in affordable housing projects supported by international donors and private sector partnerships
The Caucus is also expected to strengthen institutional capacities and regulatory frameworks to address housing challenges sustainably, and to raise awareness and advocacy for housing issues, positioning them as priorities on regional and international development agendas.
Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) is a pan-African housing finance institution with shareholders from 44 African governments, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the African Re-Insurance Corporation (Africa-Re).
