Resource information
The objective of the First Initiative
Project in Uganda is to expand the access of households to
housing finance, especially modest and lower income
households, by introducing new and innovative housing loan
products, by introducing innovative loan products combined
with affordable housing designs. The project has delivered
two studies to the Bank of Uganda: i) a study addressing the
financial and banking sector context for housing finance,
liquidity and liquidity management, and the resultant
potential for use of retail funds for mortgage lending; and
ii) a feasibility study for housing finance pilots targeted
at modest and lower income households, seeking to introduce
innovative loan products combined with lower cost house
design in a planned urban setting. This paper, business and
sustainability plan for affordable housing finance pilot
projects, provides supporting technical detail for the
feasibility study for design of pilot projects for modest
and lower income households, including the need for more
liquidity for lenders involved in lending to lower income
households. Two types of pilot projects have been developed:
one for starter homes for modest income households and one
for an incrementally built home for low-modest income
households. The recommended loan products include a
down-market or, mini-mortgage, for the starter home and
microfinance for housing for the lower income group. The
paper: (i) outlines technical details regarding house design
and loan product specifications; (ii) recommends the
technical assistance and regulatory changes deemed necessary
to implement successful pilot; and (iii) provides a brief
commentary on actions that would assist such pilots reach
sustainability and scale.
