Efforts to strengthen housing development in the Republic of Congo have received a boost as Shelter Afrique Bank explores new financing options to support the sector. The development followed a high-level meeting between President Denis Sassou N’Guesso and Thierno Habib Hann, Director General of the Pan-African housing finance institution, on July 8.
The talks, held in Brazzaville, centered on building a renewed partnership to tackle the country’s growing housing deficit. Hann disclosed that Shelter Afrique Bank is prepared to introduce a newly developed diagnostic model to assist the Congolese government in planning and attracting investment into the housing and urban development sectors.
According to Hann, the institution is shifting focus towards a broader role that includes advisory services, policy support, and ecosystem development, in addition to traditional project financing.
“Our goal is to initiate a structured advisory programme that supports the creation of an environment conducive to investment in housing and urban development,” he stated after the meeting.
Shelter Afrique Bank has a history of collaboration with Congo, having previously financed housing projects in Brazzaville between 1992 and 1997. The latest discussions signal the potential for deeper engagement and expansion of that earlier cooperation.
Beyond housing, the meeting also addressed the issue of urban flooding, which continues to affect vulnerable communities. The bank expressed its willingness to support solutions, particularly in informal settlements, through slum upgrading and urban renewal programmes.
Shelter Afrique has been active across several African countries, backing initiatives aimed at improving housing access and urban resilience through both public-private partnerships and technical support.
The renewed interest in Congo marks part of the bank’s broader strategy to engage governments on sustainable housing delivery and inclusive urban planning.
