(Ecofin Agency) - To relaunch its social housing programme, Côte d’Ivoire has decided to bring in international operators able to build thousands of houses yearly. This was announced by the minister of urbanism Bruno Nabagné Koné (photo).

"The government will hire international operators with proven financial and technical ability to build 10,000 to 20,000 houses yearly," the minister indicated during a discussion forum in Abidjan. He also revealed that a long-term social housing funding mechanism would be elaborated and mortgage loans’ access would be facilitated.

According to the minister, by boosting the social housing programme, the government wants to catch up with the delay accumulated in the implementation of the programme.

"Conditions are now created to revive the social housing programme, which is part of the urgent projects in the government’s 2019-2020 social programme," he said.

Let’s note that only 10,249 houses had been completed in the framework of the programme by end November 2018. This represents a 10% realisation rate compared with the 150,000 initial target.

Let’s note that from 400,000 in 2012, Côte d’Ivoire’s housing gap rose to 600,000 units in 2018. The yearly deficit is estimated at 200,000 units.

Zeinab Dosso (Stg)