Its Managing Director (MD), Thierno Habib Hann, said this at the Africa Climate Summit (ACS), which ended yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya.

Themed ‘Integrated Liveable African Cities’, the session was hosted by the Government of Kenya in collaboration with the African Union Commission.

“It is widely acknowledged that climate change will affect the socio-economic development trajectory of Africa, therefore governments should consider putting in place proper climate-change policies on land use and zoning and provide incentives on developments that are affordable, sustainable and offer better mobility,” Hann said.

He also urged governments to offer tax incentives and subsidies to affordable housing unit developers and reserve public land for affordable housing projects.

Hann asked nations to facilitate public-private partnerships (PPPs) between the public and private sectors and develop legislation, tools, and policies to enhance climate-resilient affordable housing and urban development on the continent.

“For instance, Kenya considers climate change a cross-cutting theme that is being mainstreamed in the medium-term plans of the County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs), which in turn inform the country’s development blueprint – Vision 2030,” the MD stated.

“Under these plans, the Government has mandated that all affordable housing projects be aligned with Global Green Certification requirements,” he added.

ACS, which started on September 4^th and was held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, brought together several African heads of state, ministers, and United Nations leaders, including the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, and his predecessor, Ban Ki-moon.