Beyond the Bricks: Shelter Afrique
In the face of rapid urbanization, shifting demographics, and growing economic pressures, the issue of adequate housing—recognized as a human right under international law—has become one of the most pressing challenges across the African continent.
According to the World Bank, as of 2015, 90% of Africa’s urban population resided in informal housing, which is characterized by unsafe, substandard conditions and limited access to basic services such as clean water, electricity, and sanitation. With Africa’s urban population expected to rise from 40% in 2015 to 60% by 2050, the demand for affordable and reliable housing will intensify dramatically, deepening the already critical housing crisis unless substantial policy measures are implemented.
The Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) is a unique pan-African financial institution established in 1982 with the mandate of expanding access to affordable, adequate, and dignified housing across the continent. Although this committee’s approach to the multifaceted subject of housing infrastructure begins from a financial standpoint, discussions are not limited to monetary concerns. Financial dimensions serve as foundations for broader reflections on how housing intersects with social, cultural, and developmental imperatives.
Representing ShafDB’s 44 stakeholder countries, delegates will grapple with the complexity of delivering scalable, sustainable, and culturally coherent housing solutions in an environment defined by diversity in geography, tradition, and socio-economic realities. In addition to discussing the development of flexible financial mechanisms, they will explore the distinction between modernization and westernization, as well as how indigenous knowledge systems and community-based principles can inform resilient housing strategies.
In order to achieve the intended goals of this committee, delegates must also consider the broader development agenda, including the intersection of investment in housing with education, employment, climate adaptation, and gender equity. Moreover, as a multinational development bank, ShafDB is not limited to high-level dialogue alone. Delegates will be charged with drafting institutional policy for the bank itself and preparing policy recommendations for national governments.
This is not just a committee about homes: it is about the right to live with dignity, identity, and opportunity. We look forward to watching you shape the roadmap for a continent where housing is not a privilege, but a platform for progress.
