The Senegalese government announces the upcoming establishment of a national platform dedicated to access to housing, aiming to offer Senegalese people, both residing in the country and abroad, an overview of housing programs developed in the different territorial centers.
This initiative was unveiled by the Minister of Urban Planning, Local Authorities and Territorial Planning, Balla Moussa Fofana, following the signing of a partnership agreement with Shelter Afrique Development Bank. “Our objective is to control housing construction costs and make them more accessible to Senegalese people,” declared the minister. He specified that this national platform will allow all citizens to easily access information relating to current housing projects, spread across the different territorial centers.
HOUSING, A PRESIDENTIAL PRIORITY
Minister Fofana recalled that the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, placed the question of housing at the heart of his endogenous development project. According to him, the current situation is worrying: “Today, 54% of Senegalese income is spent on rent, a figure well above the norm which should be around 30%.”
This problem is explained by a chronic housing shortage. “Senegal produces around 5,000 housing units per year, while needs increase by more than 20,000 additional requests each year. Since 2013, the cumulative deficit is estimated at 300,000 housing units,” he explained. The government’s objective is ambitious: to eliminate a deficit of 500,000 housing units over a period of ten years.
-A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE HABITAT
During the same meeting, Thierno Habib Hann, Managing Director of Shelter Afrique Development Bank, highlighted his institution’s commitment to strategic and sustainable development of the urban housing sector. “We had very fruitful discussions with the minister and we are happy with the welcome received. We are counting on the Senegalese government to support the implementation of our strategy in Senegal,” he said.
The Director General also underlined the vocation of Shelter Afrique, as a development bank: “Our mission is to mobilize long-term resources to have a significant impact in our African countries. This partnership with Senegal aims to strengthen investments in the housing sector so that all citizens can access decent housing. This cooperation between the Senegalese government and Shelter Afrique is part of a dynamic aimed at responding to growing housing needs, while promoting a sustainable and inclusive development model.
