Aida Robbana, the head of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) office in Tunisia, remarked on Thursday in Algiers that Algeria’s experience in the housing sector serves as an exemplary model for addressing the high demand for housing. She conveyed the UN agency’s commitment to enhancing its collaboration with Algeria in the near future.
In a statement to APS during the 44th General Assembly of the Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB), where she represented the Secretary-General of the Programme, Robbana emphasized that the programme is closely monitoring Algeria’s significant efforts in housing development. She commended these endeavors as commendable and as a blueprint for responding effectively to the pressing housing demand.
Robbana lauded the efficacy of the financing strategies adopted by the Algerian government regarding affordable housing, noting that without adequate funding, it is impossible to construct homes strategically and consistently while adhering to the standards set by UN objectives.
She further stated that UN-Habitat aims to expand its activities in Algeria in collaboration with local authorities to achieve greater effectiveness. She mentioned the potential establishment of an office in Algeria to deepen cooperation and “leverage Algeria’s experience as a replicable model for other countries.”
Additionally, she underscored the importance of improving data collection on affordable housing in Algeria and its financing mechanisms, highlighting that “this is an area in which Algeria could take a leading role for countries in the region.”
The official asserted that the gathering of African nations at the ShafDB General Assembly aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. This initiative will facilitate an initial assessment of the current state of social and affordable housing, a crucial step expected to invigorate the UN-Habitat Programme in supporting all initiatives aimed at providing affordable social housing for everyone.
Affordable housing encompasses not only land provision but also the assurance of suitable homes that respect the unique characteristics and cultures inherent to each country. This approach is increasingly recognized by African nations as they seek essential funding, she added.
In this context, Robbana encouraged African countries to leverage multilateral financing for housing projects, particularly from institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Shelter Afrique Bank, both of which collaborate closely with African governments and possess deep insights into the conditions within each nation.
She also urged governments to fulfill their responsibilities as key stakeholders in seeking solutions for housing vulnerable groups, either by directly financing projects or by securing low-interest loans to meet the growing demand for housing.
