• Seychelles secures $8.7 million ADFD funding for social housing

• Project includes 80 housing units for low-income families

• Housing prioritised amid flood damage and rising demand

Seychelles and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) signed an $8.7 million financing agreement for a social housing programme on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, the Seychelles presidency said. The agreement was signed during the World Government Summit in Dubai from Feb. 3 to 5, 2026.

The project involves the construction of 80 housing units for low-income families, including 32 two-bedroom units and 48 three-bedroom units, with access to basic infrastructure and services.

The programme aims to support inclusive economic and social development by strengthening Seychelles’ social housing sector. It is intended to improve living standards, meet rising housing demand and promote more balanced urban development, the statement said.

Seychelles, an archipelago northeast of Madagascar, has a population of more than 121,000, according to World Bank data. In 2023, the country declared a state of emergency after heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides, causing significant damage to property and infrastructure.

To address these challenges, the government allocated the largest share of its 2024 investment budget to land and housing. This represented 22.5% of the total, or 335.4 million Seychelles rupees ($23.7 million), according to official figures. Of that amount, 9.5 million rupees were earmarked for the construction of 32 social housing units.

As part of efforts to secure financing for housing projects, Seychelles signed a $15 million agreement with the Saudi Fund for Development in 2023. The deal is intended to finance the construction of 172 social housing units across seven districts between 2024 and 2026, according to the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa.

Lydie Mobio