• Move aims to boost housing finance and expand affordable housing supply
• Bank to support real estate sector amid 800,000-unit housing deficit

The Ivorian government approved a decree ratifying an agreement to establish Shelter-Afrique Development Bank at a cabinet meeting on April 1, paving the way for the pan-African housing finance institution to operate in Abidjan.

Government spokesman Amadou Coulibaly said the move would enable access to funding for real estate development projects. Hosting the bank is part of a broader strategy to position Côte d’Ivoire as a regional hub for housing finance in West Africa.

“The ratification of the statutes of this pan-African bank dedicated to housing finance will allow our country to benefit, in particular, from significant financial support to expand the supply of affordable housing,” Coulibaly said.

Financing access and sector development

The establishment of Shelter-Afrique Development Bank in Côte d’Ivoire is expected to strengthen financing capacity in the real estate sector. The institution raises funding from governments and capital markets to support housing projects led by developers and local financial institutions.

The framework aims to strengthen the housing value chain by improving access to credit and supporting real estate development. Côte d’Ivoire’s participation is expected to enhance the mobilisation of long-term capital and support sector transformation.

The announcement comes amid a housing deficit estimated at more than 800,000 units, according to Construction, Housing and Urban Planning Minister Bruno Nabagné Koné. The shortfall reflects unmet demand driven by population growth and urbanisation. Greater access to financing could help increase supply and support large-scale housing programmes.

The bank’s presence in Abidjan could also improve coordination between public and private stakeholders and help align projects with market needs, while supporting the development of financing solutions tailored to households and developers.

Chamberline Moko