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<\/p>\nBy Karabo Ngoepe<\/p>\n
Africa\u2019s ambition to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities received a major boost this week after two of the continent\u2019s biggest development financiers struck a landmark deal expected to unlock at least US$1 billion in housing and infrastructure investments.<\/p>\n
On the sidelines of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers, Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB)and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) signed a Joint Project Preparation Facility (JPPF) Framework Agreement.<\/p>\n
The deal, sealed by ShafDB Managing Director and CEO Thierno-Habib Hann and Afreximbank\u2019s Export Development Managing Director Oluranti Doherty, aims to tackle one of the most stubborn bottlenecks in Africa\u2019s housing and infrastructure sector: moving projects from the drawing board to bankability.<\/p>\n
The JPPF will focus on sectors that are central to Africa\u2019s rapid urbanisation and industrialisation: housing, construction, healthcare, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing of building materials, logistics hubs, industrial parks, and special economic zones.<\/p>\n
For Hann, the agreement could be a game-changer. \u201cOur sector faces two major structural challenges: the lack of reliable data and the insufficient preparation of projects,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt ShafDB, we\u2019ve already tackled the data gap through our VIRAL model, a data-driven framework for evidence-based decision-making.<\/p>\n
Today, this partnership with Afreximbank addresses the second challenge by ensuring projects move from concept to bankability with speed and precision.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hann noted that with more than US$1 billion in investments on the line, the initiative will be key to building \u201cresilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities across Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Afreximbank\u2019s Doherty echoed the sentiment, describing the deal as a \u201ccatalyst\u201d for private sector participation. \u201cBy combining ShafDB\u2019s expertise in housing and urban development with Afreximbank\u2019s experience in project preparation, we can unlock new opportunities and deliver transformative projects,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She added that the JPPF is not just about financing, but also capacity building. The programme includes training to equip ShafDB staff with the skills to prepare bankable projects, ensuring a steady pipeline well into the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis partnership aligns with our shared vision of promoting economic growth and creating hubs that support trade and services. It\u2019s about delivering sustainable urban development while strengthening Africa\u2019s role in global trade,\u201d Doherty said.<\/p>\n
Both Afreximbank and ShafDB are members of the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), a coalition of homegrown lenders designed to reduce dependence on external financing and encourage African solutions to African problems.<\/p>\n
Their collaboration comes at a critical moment. Africa\u2019s urban population is projected to double by 2050, with cities expected to absorb over 950 million new residents.<\/p>\n
The demand for affordable housing, modern infrastructure, and industrial platforms is already straining existing resources.<\/p>\n
Experts argue that without adequate preparation, even well-funded projects risk stalling. By pooling technical expertise and financial muscle,<\/p>\n
ShafDB and Afreximbank hope to ensure that projects are not just ambitious but also practical, bankable, and ready for investment.<\/p>\n
The signing also underscored the importance of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) as a platform for big-ticket deals. The fair, which ran from 4 to 10 September in Algiers, is projected to have resulted in US$44 billion worth of trade and investment deals across the continent.<\/p>\n
For ShafDB and Afreximbank, the partnership is about more than numbers. It signals a step toward an Africa that invests in itself, builds for its people, and charts its own development path.<\/p>\n
As Hann put it: \u201cThis agreement is not just about unlocking capital. It is about unlocking Africa\u2019s potential.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Karabo Ngoepe Africa\u2019s ambition to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities received a major boost this week…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,21,24],"tags":[46,73,49,58],"class_list":["post-3219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-africa","category-business","category-future","tag-africa","tag-eswatini","tag-human-interest","tag-national","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"\n