Access to safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right. But unfortunately, it is not enjoyed equally by all members of society. Women in particular face significant barriers to accessing housing finance. This can have a range of negative impacts on their lives. In honor of International Women’s Day this year, the Way Forward Housing Coalition (WHFC) recently held …
Recognition for demand-side finance paves the way for change
We know that housing has a larger-than-expected contribution to developing country GDP when both housing investment (construction of new housing) and housing services (rents, maintenance and utilities) are accounted for. Including the informal housing sector increases housing’s contribution to GDP even more, particularly in developing countries. However, these large economic gains will not be realized without financial products and services …