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© 2024 Opportunity Internationala 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN: 540907624.

Habitat for Humanity & Opportunity Join Forces to Improve Housing in Africa

By Opportunity International

Opportunity International and Habitat for Humanity announced a new partnership to increase access to better housing for families living in poverty. The two organizations will collaborate to provide home improvement financing, housing support services and construction technical assistance to impoverished people to enhance the well-being of communities, beginning in Ghana, followed by Malawi and Uganda.

Client Adwoa Kwatemaa used an Opportunity loan to put a new, stronger door and windows on her home in Kumasi, Ghana, so that she and her grandchildren will be safer at night.By 2030, Africa is expected to have the world’s highest urbanization rate, with 50% of the population living in cities by 2030. UN-Habitat statistics show that about 40.3% live in slums with inadequate and overcrowded housing — often without clean water, electricity and sanitation — and people in rural areas also suffer from a serious lack of these services.

In response to Africa’s housing crisis, Opportunity and Habitat for Humanity have formed a partnership. “The collaboration between Opportunity International and Habitat is a natural extension of our financial services work in Africa, and our mission to invest in one to impact many,” said our CEO Vicki Escarra. “Together with Habitat, Opportunity International will fill the gap to provide a more secure future for impoverished families in this incredibly needy region.”

This joint program offers:

  • Access to a full package of financial services, including access to loans, money transfers, payments, savings, cash, and insurance, to people unserved by conventional banks
  • Provide short-term loans for land purchase, home improvement and incremental home construction
  • Provide financial literacy training to include, where appropriate, training on construction quality, efficiency and the benefits of building safely
  • Housing support services (including construction technical assistance) to ensure quality and durability of buildings, plus monitoring/supervision and training

For more information about this exciting partnership, visit opportunity.org/habitat»

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