An association of mortgage banks, building societies, housing corporations and other organisations involved in the mobilisation of funds for shelter and housing, on the continent of Africa.

Given that the regulatory environments in many African countries are not appropriate for mortgage finance. Even in those countries where the environment is conducive, mortgage financiers of service that sector of the population that can afford mortgage finance. The African Union for Housing Finance is thus actively seeking ways to incorporate and assist, among others, informal sector lenders, such as community banks, peoples’ banks, saving associations and credit unions to participate in the housing finance market.

Individual housing finance institutions, as well as associations representing such institutions are eligible for membership of the African Union for Housing Finance. It is not a condition of membership that individual housing finance institutions need to belong to an association to be members in their own right. In Zimbabwe, we started with one membership from the Association only, but the individual members of the Association decided to take out separate memberships in order to have their own vote and to strengthen the financial position of the African Union for Housing Finance.

STATEMENT BY THE MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN UNION FOR HOUSING FINANCE AT THEIR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, ON 8 SEPTEMBER 2011. 

We, the members of the African Union for Housing Finance, having met over three days in Johannesburg, South Africa, confirm our commitment to the development of sustainable housing finance markets that address the broad spectrum of needs in each of our countries and regions throughout Africa.  As individual housing sector practitioners, and collectively as members of the African Union for Housing Finance, we are committed to: 

• The development of appropriate housing and housing finance products, which are affordable to our populations, and contribute effectively towards adequate housing across our nations

• The establishment, and consolidation of existing, institutions throughout the housing supply chain that are sustainable and robust

• Promoting consumer education and financial literacy so that households can participate effectively in their housing processes

• An integrated delivery approach in which the development of housing occurs within a sound planning framework that includes the delivery of infrastructure services, and social and economic amenities

• Professional development and training across the spectrum of the housing value chain

• Working in collaboration with each other, and other stakeholders, whether in the public or private sectors, to promote the realization of sustainable human settlements across Africa.