The 39th Annual African Union for Housing Finance conference, hosted in Windhoek, Namibia was a success. The conference was convened under the theme of “Innovation on the Front Line: Making Affordable Housing Happen”. The conference featured presentations and panel discussions on various topics related to affordable housing. It also held a site visit, an exhibition, and the first AUHF Affordable Housing Awards.
Habitat for Humanity Malawi (HFHM), Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) and Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) attended the conference and presented on the Home Equals campaign. The campaign aims to advocate for policy changes that will increase access to adequate housing for people living in informal settlements. Under this campaign, HFHM and CISONECC successfully advocated for the finalization and enactment of the Disaster Risk Management bill and was assented into law on 7th June 2023.
The new legislation provides a framework that aims to enhance the capacity and resilience of the country to cope with disasters. The enactment of the Disaster Risk Management Act will bring a positive impact on housing finance in several ways. It will help to prevent or mitigate the loss and damage caused by disasters to housing and related infrastructure. The act once fully operationalized will also help to mobilize and allocate resources for housing finance in the aftermath of disasters. The act provides for the establishment of a Disaster Risk Management Trust Fund, which will be used to promote disaster preparedness, risk management and timely and effective disaster response. The act will also help to promote the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in housing finance policies and practices. This can encourage the adoption of standards and guidelines for safe and sustainable construction practices in housing. This can also foster the development and dissemination of innovative housing finance products and mechanisms that are responsive to the needs and preferences of people living in disaster-prone areas.
Read more about the #HomeEquals on www.habitat.org/home-equals
Read more about the conference on www.auhfconference.com
