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FORTHCOMING EVENTS
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| BUILDING TOWARDS A BOOM: |
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| African Housing Finance Markets in 2010 |
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| (View below for Registration Form & Accommodation Booking Form) |
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| The African Union for
Housing Finance is pleased to announce its Annual General Meeting,
Training Session, and Conference, to be held in Gaborone, Botswana,
from 21-23 September 2010. |
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| "…even as the rest
of the global economy slows down and some parts even flirt with recession,
business in large parts of Africa is booming like never before.
Despite the credit crunch in the rich world’s financial markets, in
sub-Saharan Africa in particular there is no sign of any reduction in a
growth rate that has averaged over 5% a year for the past decade.”
Economist July 8th 2008 “Africa Shines” |
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| The economies of many
African countries are growing healthily, spurred not only by demand for
Africa’s raw materials, but also by the growth of business. In
2008, the Economist reported that at the beginning of that year, “some
15 sub-Saharan African countries had stock markets, listing some 500
companies with tradable shares and a combined market capitalization –
excluding relatively mighty South Africa’s – of US$100 billion,
according to a report from Goldman Sachs, “Africa Rising”.[1]
Across Africa, there is a sense among investors of an untapped mass
market, “a fortune at the bottom of the pyramid” as CK Prahalad put it
in his book of the same name – even (or perhaps especially) in the
aftermath of the global economic crisis. African countries offer
new markets for investors seeking opportunities to make their own
footprints and realize high returns in what is still a relatively
high-risk environment. |
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| The reasons for this
growing, and sustained interest are many. First, most countries
have now had a good number of years of independence without conflict.
Second, countries across Africa have been pursuing financial market
development initiatives, which have led to interest rate
liberalizations, removal of credit ceilings, restructuring and
privatizing of state-owned banks, and so on. As Treasury Bill
rates come down, investors seek other opportunities to improve returns.
Third, investors broadly feel that African markets escaped the worst of
the financial economic crisis, and are consequently unsullied by the
complex financial structuring that characterised other markets. In
an environment of heightened anxiety against fancy financial
engineering, African markets offer an opportunity for simple,
straightforward investing. And fourth, growth and development of
local economies, as well as rapid urbanisation, means a growing demand d
housing finance. |
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| Within the overall framework of these developments – even in the rather
depressed financial market of 2010 – housing and housing finance has
become an increasingly important area of focus for investors –
especially in Africa. Whether this is a hedging strategy designed
to support overall market stability for the success of other
investments, or an identification of the opportunities clearly evident
in the urbanisation rates and housing challenges of Africa’s cities and
towns, more and more investors, lenders, and developers are considering
a focus on, or already engaging in housing finance initiatives.
Is Africa’s housing finance sector ready for this interest? What
kinds of opportunities are available? And what should market
players do to strengthen their position? These questions will
frame the discussions at the AUHF’s Annual Conference and AGM. |
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| The Annual Conference
and AGM will be held over two and a half days in late September 2010, in
Gaborone, Botswana. The days will be structured as follows: |
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| Tuesday, 21
September 2010: AUHF Training Session: The
first day of the conference will be presented as a training session,
allowing for extensive participation by delegates as they grapple with
key concepts and approaches relating to housing finance markets in their
countries. The AUHF has approached UNHabitat’s policy, urban
finance, and urban economy and finance branches to host this day of
training
(please note, UNHabitat’s availability is still not confirmed – watch
for developments). UNHabitat’s close relationship with many
African governments, and their ongoing assistance in housing and housing
finance policy development internationally, will give delegates a unique
insight into the relationship of the housing finance market and their own
commercial operations, with government policy developments. |
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| The training agenda is
still under discussion. The following topics are being considered: |
- The design of effective housing policies that enable
participation by the private sector
- Practical lobbying and advocacy strategies
- Microfinance housing loan product development
- Underwriting for informal incomes
- Credit testing and monitoring of loan portfolios
- Project finance for neighbourhood redevelopment and upgrading
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| As part of this day,
various case studies will be presented and delegates will be invited to
debate the viability of such approaches in their own contexts. |
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| Wednesday, 22
September 2010: AUHF Conference: The
second day of the conference will address the overall theme: building
towards a boom, and will ask delegates to consider the role of their
individual organisations within the wider development of a housing
finance sector in Africa. To this end, the discussion will
challenge delegates to consider the role and opportunity for an industry
body such as the AUHF, and how collaboration may contribute productively
towards individual growth. |
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| Over the course of the
day, speakers will address the following topics: |
- Housing finance: what does post-crisis look like? (Address by the
IUHF)
- The challenges and opportunities for housing finance in Africa
(address by the AUHF)
- Presentation of AUHF Housing Finance Yearbook
- New players, products and opportunities
- Articulating a housing finance sector towards accelerated growth
and development
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| Delegates will be asked
to discuss these issues in smaller groups, and facilitators will assist
delegates in setting out their recommendations for the AUHF going
forward, in this new era of challenge and opportunity. |
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| Thursday, 23
September 2010: AUHF AGM: The third day
will involve a half-day AGM meeting for AUHF members. The agenda
for this meeting will be drawn from the preceding days’ discussions and
will lead to the development of a new strategy for the AUHF, putting it
in a better position to grapple with the next decade of opportunities
for growth in housing finance in Africa, and to provide appropriate
support to its members. |
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Housing and housing finance practitioners,
investors, governments, development finance institutions, embassies,
and other interested parties are invited to participate in this
important conference. PLEASE RESERVE YOUR PLACE!
For more information, please contact:
Felicity Cawley, AUHF Secretariat
auhf@netactive.co.za
Kecia Rust, Centre for Affordable Housing Finance (FinMark Trust)
Kecia@iafrica.com
Reginald Motswaiso, Chairperson, AUHF
RMotswaiso@bhc.bw
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* * D R A F T A G E N D A * * |
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| Monday, 20 September 2010 |
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Time |
Topic |
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All day |
Delegates Arrival and registration |
All |
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16:00 – 19:00 |
Executive Committee Meeting |
EXCO members only |
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19:00 |
Dinner sponsored by Botswana Housing Corporation |
All |
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DRAFT TRAINING AGENDA : Tuesday, 21 September
2010 |
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| Training: Sponsored by UN Habitat |
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| Moderator: Reginald Motswaiso,
Chairperson, AUHF |
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Time |
Topic |
Proposed speaker |
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08:30 – 09:00 |
Welcome, introduction, conference overview & objectives |
Reginald Motswaiso, AUHF Chairperson |
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TRAINING PROGRAMME |
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9:00 – 11:00 |
How to work with governments in designing effective housing
policies: brining together finance policy and housing policy,
sub-market targeting, linking finance with subsidies, etc. |
Claudio Acioly, Chief Housing Policy Section, UNHabitat
Xing Quan
Zhang, Chief, Urban Economy and Finance Branch, UNHabitat |
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11:00 – 11:30 |
Tea break |
All |
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11:30 – 13:00 |
What makes a good project? Putting together viable project
proposals, structuring public/private partnerships, working with
communities, etc.. |
Bonnie Hewson, Chief, Urban Finance Branch, UN Habitat
Gerrit van
Kampen, FMO |
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13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch |
All |
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14:00 – 15:30 |
Raising capital for affordable housing finance: savings,
deposits, equity, loans: the pros and cons |
Xing Quan Zhang
Bonniew Hewson
Gerrit van Kampen |
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15:30 – 16:00 |
Tea break |
All |
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16:00 – 17:00 |
Case studies from Africa and group discussion on pro’s and
cons |
Short, 5-minute presentations, followed by facilitated discussions
in small groups
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17:00 – 17:15 |
Closure and thank you |
Reginald Motswaiso, AUHF |
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19:00 |
Dinner sponsored by |
All |
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DRAFT CONFERENCE AGENDA : Wednesday, 22
September 2010 |
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| Conference: sponsored by the AUHF |
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| Moderator: Reginald Motswaiso,
Chairperson, AUHF |
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Time |
Topic |
Proposed speaker |
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08:30 – 08:45 |
Welcome and overview of the day’s session / key issues emerging from
training session |
Reginald Motswaiso, AUHF |
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08:45 – 09:30 |
Keynote address: Housing finance – are we post-crisis yet? |
Cas Coovadia, Chairperson, IUHF –
or possibly Simon Walley, World Bank |
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09:30 – 10:00 |
Keynote address: The challenges and opportunities for housing
finance in Africa and what this means for the AUHF |
Asare Akkufo, 2nd Vice
Chairperson, AUHF |
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10:00 – 10:30 |
Housing Finance in Botswana: Key issues facing practitioners |
Reginald Motswaiso, Botswana
Housing Corporation |
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10:30 – 11:00 |
Presentation of Housing Finance Yearbook |
Kecia Rust, CAHF |
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11:00 – 11:30 |
Tea |
All |
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11:30 – 13:00 |
Panel discussion: New developments in Housing Finance in Africa, and
challenges facing practitioners
This session will involve five
short (7 min) presentations from practitioners on their own efforts
in housing finance in different countries. What innovations
can they share? A facilitator will then take the panel through
a set of pre-defined questions to facilitate a lively discussion.
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1. Lender: James Mwangi, Equity
Bank?
2. Developer: Houses
for Africa?
3. Investor: Soula Proxenos,
International Housing Solutions?
4. Housing Micro lender:
Ken Corsar Select Africa?
5. FMO: Gerrit van Kampen?
6. Facilitator: AUHF Exco |
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13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch |
All |
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14:00 – 15:00 |
Panel discussion: Articulating a Housing Finance Sector: This
session will look at innovative partnerships; and, planning,
monitoring, evaluation and revision of delivery models. |
1. UN Habitat: Bonnie Hewson?
2. Development Financier:
3. Rating Agency
4. Credit Bureau |
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15:00 – 16:00
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Working Groups: Delegates will split into 4 groups to discuss the
debates raised in the previous two panels. Facilitators to
each group will ask delegates to list and priorities the key
challenges and key opportunities, and identify the gaps.
Facilitators will then ask delegates to consider how collaboration
might help them overcome these gaps, and what the AUHF might do in
this regard.
Facilitators: AUHF Exco members |
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16:00 – 16:30 |
Tea |
All |
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16:30 – 17:30 |
Working group report back
Facilitated discussion in Plenary
External perspective on the future of the AUHF |
Facilitator: |
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19:00 – 22:00 |
Dinner sponsored by… |
All |
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AUHF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING : Thursday, 23
September 2010 |
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| AGM: sponsored by the AUHF |
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| Moderator: Reginald Motswaiso,
Chairperson, AUHF |
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Time |
Topic |
Proposed speaker |
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9:00 – 9:30 |
Welcome and presentation of the agenda |
Reginald Motswaiso |
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9:30 – 12:00 |
Annual General Meeting of the African Union for Housing Finance |
AUHF Members |
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12:00 – 13:30 |
Lunch |
All |
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13:30 – 14:30 |
EXCO Meeting |
AUHF EXCO Members |
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14:30 – 15:00 |
Tea |
All |
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19:30 |
Dinner |
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SITE VISITS : Friday, 24 September 2010 |
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| Site visits to be organized on request: please contact Felicity |
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Time |
Topic |
Facilitators |
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09:00 – 12:30 |
Site visits in Gaborone |
To be organised on request. |
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For more information, please contact:
Felicity Cawley, AUHF Secretariat
auhf@netactive.co.za
Kecia Rust, Centre for Affordable Housing Finance (FinMark Trust)
Kecia@iafrica.com
Reginald Motswaiso, Chairperson, AUHF
RMotswaiso@bhc.bw
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From:
www.economist.com/daily/columns/businessview/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=11698186 |
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This draft agenda has been prepared by Kecia Rust. While UN
Habitat has expressed interest in participating in this way, no
commitments have been made. At this point, this is just a
proposal for comment. |
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Similarly, while each of the proposed speakers have expressed
interest in participating in the AUHF’s Training Session in some
way, the proposed organisation and structure of the topics have not
been tested with them. These are offered here as suggestions
for discussion. |
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BUILDING TOWARDS A BOOM: African Housing
Finance Markets in 2010
- Registration Form |
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BUILDING TOWARDS A BOOM: African Housing
Finance Markets in 2010 -
Accommodation Booking Form |
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