African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) have entered into a new strategic partnership designed to channel at least US$1 billion into housing, construction, and urban development projects across Africa.
The agreement, known as the Joint Project Preparation Facility (JPPF) Framework Agreement, was signed during the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), currently taking place in Cairo. The deal was formalised by Ms. Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director of Export Development at Afreximbank, and Mr. Thierno-Habib Hann, Managing Director and CEO of ShafDB.
The JPPF is intended to provide early-stage project preparation financing, enabling initiatives to move from initial concept to bankable projects more quickly and efficiently. Priority areas will include housing and construction, healthcare, tourism and hospitality, industrial and building materials manufacturing, commercial and residential infrastructure, and logistical hubs such as industrial parks and special economic zones.
Alongside financing, the agreement also features a capacity-building programme for ShafDB staff, designed to enhance their expertise in preparing impactful, investment-ready projects.
Speaking at the signing, Ms. Doherty said:
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Shelter Afrique Development Bank to accelerate sustainable urban development across Africa. This partnership aligns with our shared vision of promoting economic growth and enhancing the quality of projects on the continent. By combining ShafDB’s expertise in housing and urban development and Afreximbank’s extensive experience in project preparation, we are poised to unlock new opportunities and deliver transformative projects in critical sectors that will amongst other benefits establish economic hubs and platforms that will promote trade and tradeable services. The JPPF will act as a catalyst for private sector investment, leading to substantial socio-economic development across the continent. Furthermore, our capacity-building programme will equip ShafDB staff with essential project preparation skills, ensuring sustainable project pipelines in the years to come.”
Mr. Hann also highlighted the structural challenges facing the sector, adding:
“Our sector faces two major structural challenges: the lack of reliable data and the insufficient preparation of projects. At ShafDB, we have already taken bold steps to address the first challenge through our VIRAL model — a data-driven framework designed to provide actionable insights and support evidence-based decision-making in housing and urban development. Today, we are proud to tackle the second challenge through this strategic partnership with Afreximbank. The Joint Project Preparation Facility will enable us to move projects from concept to bankability with speed and precision, unlocking over US$1 billion in investments. This is a transformative step toward building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities across Africa.”
Both banks are members of the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), reflecting their shared commitment to advancing economic development across the continent.
IATF2025, running from 4 to 10 September, is forecast to generate trade and investment deals worth more than US$44 billion.
