By Obinna Uballa
A new partnership between the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) is projected to unlock more than US$1 billion in investments that could transform housing and urban development across Africa.
The deal, announced at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers, is expected to provide early-stage project preparation financing, helping to move infrastructure and housing projects from concept to bankability with greater speed and efficiency.
According to both institutions, in a statement on Thursday, the Joint Project Preparation Facility (JPPF) will focus on critical sectors that underpin Africa’s growth, including residential and commercial housing, healthcare facilities, industrial zones, manufacturing of building materials, and special economic zones.
The facility is also designed to act as a catalyst for private sector investment, creating new economic hubs and boosting regional trade, the statement said.
Afreximbank said the initiative will not only mobilise large-scale financing for construction and housing but also deliver long-term socio-economic impact by fostering inclusive and sustainable cities. “The JPPF will act as a catalyst for private sector investment, leading to substantial socio-economic development across the continent,” said Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director, Export Development at Afreximbank.
ShafDB’s Managing Director and CEO, Thierno-Habib Hann, stressed that the programme would address two of the biggest structural barriers to Africa’s urban growth: inadequate project preparation and lack of reliable data. “The Joint Project Preparation Facility will enable us to move projects from concept to bankability with speed and precision, unlocking over US$1 billion in investments,” he said.
In addition to financing, the initiative includes a robust capacity-building programme to strengthen ShafDB staff’s ability to prepare and deliver bankable projects, ensuring a sustainable pipeline well into the future.
The partnership is being hailed as a transformative step in tackling Africa’s massive housing deficit and accelerating the continent’s broader urbanisation agenda. With Africa’s urban population projected to double by 2050, experts say the facility could help bridge a widening gap in affordable housing, while also boosting trade and industrial growth.
