Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have signed a landmark Joint Project Preparation Facility (JPPF) Framework Agreement aimed at unlocking at least US$1 billion in investments for housing, infrastructure, and urban development across Africa.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) by Mr. Thierno-Habib Hann, Managing Director and CEO of ShafDB, and Ms. Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director of Export Development at Afreximbank.
The JPPF is designed to finance early-stage project preparation, moving projects from concept to bankability with speed and efficiency.
It will prioritize key sectors including housing, healthcare, hospitality and tourism, construction, industrial manufacturing of building materials, commercial and residential infrastructure, and special economic zones.
Beyond financing, the facility incorporates a capacity-building programme to equip ShafDB staff with project preparation skills, ensuring a sustainable pipeline of impactful projects.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Shelter Afrique Development Bank to accelerate sustainable urban development across Africa,” said Ms. Doherty.
“By combining ShafDB’s housing expertise with Afreximbank’s project preparation experience, we will unlock transformative opportunities that establish economic hubs, boost trade, and promote socio-economic development.”
Mr. Hann emphasized that the partnership addresses long-standing structural challenges in the sector.
“Our sector faces two major challenges: lack of reliable data and insufficient project preparation. With our VIRAL model, we’ve tackled the first challenge. Now, through this strategic partnership with Afreximbank, we will solve the second — moving projects from concept to bankability and unlocking over US$1 billion in investments. This is a transformative step toward resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities across Africa.”
Both institutions are members of the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), reflecting their joint commitment to collaboration and innovation for Africa’s development.
The deal was signed during the IATF2025, which ran from September 4–10 and is projected to have generated trade and investment agreements worth more than US$44 billion.