FES Global 76d ago

As African cities expand at an unprecedented pace, the question of how to deliver adequate, inclusive, and affordable housing has become one of the continent’s most pressing policy challenges. With urban populations projected to surge in the coming decades, the focus is shifting toward stronger policy frameworks, improved implementation, and governance systems that prioritise equity, participation, and sustainability. From rethinking the dominance of homeownership to strengthening rental markets, and from recognising informality to embedding community voices in decision-making, the future of housing in Africa depends on more responsive, people-centred policy approaches. These critical issues took centre stage at the Second African Urban Forum (AUF2), held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, where the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Just City Project convened a high-level side event on the future of housing in Africa. Bringing together policymakers, civil society actors, and housing practitioners, the session explored how to move beyond policy rhetoric toward practical, scalable solutions that address the realities of rapid urbanisation. The discussion underscored the need for standalone housing policies that clearly separate housing from real estate markets, ensuring affordability remains central. Participants highlighted persistent gaps in implementation, often driven by weak coordination, limited monitoring, and the exclusion of communities from planning processes. Informality was recognised not as an anomaly, but as the dominant mode of urban living—requiring policies that work with, rather than against, existing realities. Financing also emerged as a key barrier, with calls for stronger government leadership to ensure public-private partnerships deliver for low-income populations, not just middle- and high-income groups. Ultimately, the session reinforced that achieving housing justice in Africa is both a technical and political challenge—one that requires inclusive governance, stronger institutions, and sustained commitment. Watch the full discussion to gain insight into the policy shifts needed to make adequate housing for all a reality across African cities.