Strengthen national data bureaus to support housing delivery in Africa
Financer of Pan-African Housing Development, Shelter Afrique, has recommended African governments to boost their national data bureaus and offices by giving appropriate funding to enable them collect vital data for a variety of sectors, including the housing sector.
According to Thierno Habib Hann, Managing Director of Shelter Afrique, data is crucial in the development of any industry because “it informs policy decisions made by governments as well as investment decisions made by private sector participants including financiers and developers.”
“Because housing is a sector that drives economic growth, it is critical to gain access to critical data in order to drive investment and make informed decisions.” When we have data, we can better understand what’s driving the housing market and make policy decisions to increase the sector’s impact,” Mr. Hann explained.
“Frequently, where data is unavailable or severely limited, the underlying administrative or regulatory processes are inefficient or poorly aligned with market needs.” “Data management in the housing industry should be anchored on improved visibility, laying the foundation for better governance, more appropriate regulations, and long-term financial sector participation,” Mr. Hann emphasized, adding that “data in the housing finance industry must be reliable, accurate, and verifiable.”
Mr. Hann stated that in the future, Shelter Afrique will demand developers to provide necessary data for the organization’s usage before committing to finance any project.
“This is the only way we can be transformational and change the industry,” said Mr. Hann.
Mr. Hann spoke during the 17th edition of the Africa International Housing Show, one of Africa’s largest housing and construction expos, which took place from the 24th to the 28th of July 2023 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, Nigeria.
Product presentations, exhibitions of building technology, home interiors, modern construction equipment, chemical and paint products, mortgage services, housing projects, and interactive forums with prominent stakeholders in the built industry from around the world who share a common goal of achieving affordable housing are all part of the show.
