Cameroon Explores Long-Term Housing Finance to Tackle 2.5 Million-Unit Shortfall

Cameroon is exploring long-term financing options to increase housing construction and make home purchases more accessible as the country faces an estimated shortfall of 2.5 million units.

The issue was discussed in Yaoundé on Sept. 8, 2026, between Economy, Planning and Regional Development Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey and UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach.

The two officials discussed financial mechanisms that could turn part of the country’s housing need into effective demand. However, no funding amount, financing instrument, firm commitment or implementation timetable was announced after the meeting.

“We also discussed financing and how appropriate financial mechanisms can transform social needs into concrete demand, for example to address the 2.5 million housing-unit deficit here in Cameroon,” Rossbach said.

No Financing Mechanism Selected Yet

The discussions covered two distinct needs: financing investment in housing construction and helping households finance home purchases. Both generally require capital that can be repaid over long periods to spread costs for developers and buyers. The government did not specify which mechanisms it is considering to mobilize that capital or how funding could be divided among public resources, bank lending, private investors and international partners.

Eligibility conditions for households, potential public guarantees and financing arrangements for social housing also remain to be determined.

UN-Habitat did not announce any direct financing. The discussions instead addressed the expertise the UN agency could provide to help design financial mechanisms, structure programs and mobilize financial partners.

Land Access Remains Central

Land availability was another major part of the discussions. Rossbach stressed the need to make land available for affordable housing construction and the development of informal neighborhoods.

The availability of legally secure land connected to essential infrastructure can determine both the cost and pace of housing development. The two sides also discussed the use of local building materials and urban planning. However, no housing production target, development site or specific real estate program was presented after the meeting.

For now, the meeting opens a phase of technical cooperation on financing and project preparation. It does not represent the announcement of a funding package or the launch of a new housing construction program.

Ludovic Amara