This archive report was first published on 7 October 2021.
On October 7, 2021, Shelter Afrique announced a deal with the government of Cameroon to establish a $15 million Industrial Housing Corporation (prefab factory) to address the shortage of affordable housing in the country.
The factory, which will produce building materials such as polystyrene blocks and panels, is expected to reach a minimum annual production capacity of 1,500 affordable houses.
According to Shelter Afrique, Cameroon's construction industry faces significant challenges, including a shortage of contractors with adequate capacity and logistics, resulting in high construction costs, low building quality, and occasional delays in delivering large housing projects.
"We strongly believe that the establishment of Industrial Housing Corporation is the appropriate contribution by Shelter Afrique to address the problems facing provision of affordable housing in Cameroon through capacity building," said Shelter Afrique CEO Andrew Chimphondah in an interview with The East African.
Shelter Afrique, a pan-African housing financier owned by 44 member states, including Kenya, the African Development Bank, and Africa Re, will own a 51% stake in the Industrial Housing Corporation, with the Cameroon government taking a 49% shareholding.
