As urban populations grow and climate risks intensify, cities across regions face increasing pressure to provide housing that is both affordable and sustainable. In response to these intersecting challenges, Connective Cities launched a thematic dialogue on 28 May 2025, bringing together city officials, technical experts and urban practitioners from Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe.
Participants from Windhoek, Kitengela, Kisumu, Nairobi, Lusaka, Mazabuka, Huye, Bloemfontein, Zanzibar, Nelson Mandela Bay, Hebron, Tbilisi and Berlin engaged in a structured exchange of ideas and approaches, exploring practical solutions for inclusive and resilient urban housing systems. The event marked the beginning of a broader exchange process, which will continue with topic-specific deep-dive sessions beginning on 17 July 2025.
Shared Challenges, Context-Specific Solutions
The discussion underscored that while urban housing challenges are shared across many cities, solutions must be context-sensitive. High construction costs, limited access to finance, and land scarcity were common constraints. However, cities are responding with innovative strategies:
- Huye presented its experience with a revolving housing fund, which supports incremental housing development and actively involves local communities.
- Nairobi stressed the importance of improving the quality and availability of housing data to support evidence-based planning and investment decisions.
- Berlin offered insights on the role of public land management and social rental models to maintain long-term housing affordability.
These inputs highlighted the importance of designing housing policies that reflect both local governance realities and broader social priorities.
Circular Materials and Building Reuse as Cost-Saving and Climate Strategies
The reuse of existing buildings and the application of circular construction principles were central to the discussion. Participants shared examples of how:
- Traditional building materials such as mud and straw can offer significant cost and environmental advantages when combined with engineering improvements and clear construction standards
- Adaptive reuse of buildings contributes to both resource efficiency and urban revitalisation
- Circular strategies also open new opportunities for local employment and innovation in the housing sector
The discussion emphasised that promoting material reuse requires an enabling policy environment and technical support at city level. Circularity is not only a technical approach but also a governance challenge, tied to regulation, planning practices, and land use policies.
Making Housing Finance More Inclusive
Financing remains a significant barrier to the delivery of affordable housing. Participants explored how to improve access to housing finance through:
- Microcredit schemes and community savings models, adapted to informal or low-income contexts
- More inclusive rent-to-own mechanisms and cooperatives
- Capacity building for local governments to structure and manage housing finance, including pre-feasibility support and institutional partnerships
Throughout the discussion, participants underlined the need for financing models that are inclusive and flexible, particularly for groups who are often excluded from formal housing markets—such as women, tenants, and people in informal settlements.
Next Steps: Deep-Dive Tracks Starting 17 July 2025
To build on the outcomes of the initial exchange, Connective Cities will facilitate a series of thematic deep-dive sessions launching on 17 July 2025, offering a space for collaborative learning, peer support and project development. These tracks will focus on:
- Finance & Microcredit for Housing
- Reuse & Circular Materials
- City Partnerships & Pilot Platforms
Participants will be invited to work in smaller groups, explore tailored solutions, and develop practical ideas for implementation, replication, or upscaling.
Moving from Dialogue to Action
The exchange clearly demonstrated that affordable housing is not just a construction issue. It is a multidimensional challenge that touches on urban resilience, social equity, and environmental sustainability. While no one-size-fits-all solution exists, platforms like Connective Cities can help accelerate progress by connecting cities, facilitating technical exchange, and supporting municipal capacity.
The discussion also reaffirmed that locally grounded innovation—backed by peer learning and international cooperation—can unlock new pathways for action. By drawing on shared experiences and contextual knowledge, cities can co-develop housing models that are inclusive, financially viable, and climate-responsive.
Next session: 17 July 2025
For further information or to join a thematic track, please contact:
jelena.karamatijevic@giz.de
