From 7 to 10 April, AFI and Habitat for Humanity organized a Housing Finance Workshop in Cairo, hosted by Central Bank of Egypt, aimed at helping policymakers to develop inclusive policy frameworks conducive to private sector investment in green, sustainable, and affordable housing. 

The event, attended by members from ten AFI institutions, explored low-cost housing models, green housing finance, subsidies in housing finance, and strategies to engage housing finance ecosystem stakeholders. 

“The workshop was a very successful platform for peer learning, exchanging experiences, and learning how different financing models can financially include the most vulnerable,” said Khaled Bassiouny, General Manager for Financial Inclusion at the Central Bank of Egypt, and member of AFI’s Affordable Housing Finance task force. “We looked in detail at Egypt’s experience in green and sustainable housing, and in advancing affordable housing solutions, identifying lessons for AFI members.” 

“Together, we dove into transformative discussions on low-cost housing models, green housing finance, smart subsidies, and stakeholder collaboration,” said Dieter De Smet, Manager of AFI’s Financial Inclusion Strategy Peer Learning Group. “The field trip to Badr City was awe-inspiring, showcasing Egypt’s triumph—backed by CBE and bold policy reforms—in creating one million affordable homes and uplifting three million lives.” 

The workshop was the latest in a series of initiatives organized by AFI and Habitat for Humanity, who are working together with members on an enabling regulatory environment for inclusive, affordable, sustainable housing finance, and to support AFI members’ policy development.  

“By engaging financial regulators with Habitat’s experts in housing finance, we’re supporting a creative process towards a conducive regulatory environment where policymakers unlock private investment, green homes rise, and resilient communities thrive,” said AFI Chief Executive Officer, Dr Alfred Hannig. “These efforts will not only foster financial inclusion by expanding access to housing finance for vulnerable populations but also deliver visible impacts—improved living conditions, economic opportunities, and community resilience—transforming lives from the ground up.”