IEA News

Algeria is set to host Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s (ShafDB) 44^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Housing Symposium in July 2025, the Bank has disclosed. 

The high-level event, set to take place in Algiers from 15^th to 17^th July 2025 at Hotel El Aurassi in Algiers, Algers, will bring together key stakeholders, policymakers, investors, and development finance leaders to discuss strategies for advancing affordable housing and sustainable urban development across Africa. 

The AGM, which will convene under the theme: “Housing Sector Financial Sustainability Amid Global Turbulence: Opportunities and Challenges”, will bring together Ministers of Housing and Finance from member States, shareholders, central banks, mayors, private developers, investors, and development finance partners to explore ways of transforming the promise of urban Africa into tangible, inclusive progress. 

The meeting will provide a platform to review ShafDB’s performance, assess progress in its strategic initiatives, and formulate policies that will shape the institution’s role in addressing Africa’s housing and infrastructure challenges. 

Speaking about the upcoming AGM, Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s Managing Director & CEO, Thierno-Habib Hann, expressed his enthusiasm about the selection of Algeria as the host country. 

“We appreciate our member countries for their continued commitment to affordable housing and urban development across Africa. Algeria’s role in hosting the Extraordinary General Meeting in 2023—where Shelter Afrique was transformed into a Development Bank—and now the 44th AGM in Algiers, reflects the collective momentum and shared vision of our members. We look forward to collaborating with all our partners and stakeholders to advance impactful housing initiatives and drive inclusive economic growth across the continent,” Mr. Hann said.

 Key agenda for the AGM will include discussions on capital mobilization, innovative financing mechanisms, and public-private partnerships to accelerate housing delivery.

Additionally, the meeting will feature ministerial roundtables and high-level policy dialogues; plenary sessions to explore urban resilience, local solutions to housing challenges; technical forums, exhibitions and investment showcases, and networking sessions aimed at fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders.

“As Africa continues to face a growing demand for affordable housing, Shelter Afrique Development Bank remains committed to championing solutions that enhance urban resilience, economic empowerment, and inclusive growth. The 44^th AGM in Algiers is expected to yield critical resolutions that will guide the institution’s strategic direction in the years ahead,” Mr. Hann quipped.

Established in 1981 in Lusaka, Zambia, Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) is a Pan-African Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) dedicated to promoting and financing sustainable green housing, urban development and related infrastructure. It operates through a shareholding of 44 African governments and two institutional shareholders: African Development Bank (AfDB) and African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa-Re). 

The institution is involved in financing housing and related infrastructure across the value chain, both on the demand and supply sides, through its four (4) business lines: Financial Institutions Group (FIG), the Project Finance Group (PFG), the Sovereign and Public-Private partnerships (PPP) Group, and the Fund Management Group (FMG).

The Anti-Corruption Court has released Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya on a cash bail of Sh500,000 or a bond of Sh1 million.

The court has also barred him from accessing his office for 60 days and from contacting witnesses in his graft case.

Additionally, Natembeya has been prohibited from leaving the country without the court’s permission. This comes after the governor urged the court to grant him bail pending the hearing of a Sh 3.2 million graft case. 

Through his defence lawyers, Natembeya asked Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Charles Ondieki to release him on reasonable bail terms, describing the charges as politically motivated and intended to punish him.

Led by senior counsels Macharia Njeru and Ndegwa Njiru, the governor’s lawyers argued that the prosecution's case was weak and driven by ulterior motives.

“My plea is that we have mercy on the accused,” said Njeru. 

“What we have here is welfare. We live in this country, and none of us can purport to shut our eyes to that. Independent agencies are being captured and used to weaponize matters of justice, where legal processes are used to harass political colleagues. It is very sad.”

Njeru, a former chairperson of the National Police Service Commission, alleged political interference in the case and claimed he had first-hand experience with such matters. By Nancy Gitonga, The Standard