The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) have signed a Joint Project Preparation Facility (JPPF) Framework Agreement aimed at unlocking at least $1 billion in investments to accelerate housing and infrastructure development across Africa.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) by Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director of Export Development at Afreximbank, and Thierno-Habib Hann, Managing Director and CEO of ShafDB.
The JPPF is designed to provide early-stage financing to move projects from concept to bankability with a focus on priority sectors including housing, healthcare, industrial zones, building materials manufacturing, hospitality, logistics, and commercial and residential infrastructure.
Doherty said the partnership combines Afreximbank’s experience in project preparation with ShafDB’s sectoral expertise.
“By working together, we are positioned to unlock new opportunities and deliver transformative projects in critical sectors that will establish economic hubs and promote trade and tradeable services,” she noted.
She added that the facility will also act as a catalyst for private sector investment while a capacity-building programme will equip ShafDB staff with essential project preparation skills to ensure sustainability.
Hann described the JPPF as a solution to one of the sector’s most pressing challenges.
“Our industry has struggled with insufficient preparation of projects. This joint facility will enable us to move projects from concept to bankability with speed and precision, unlocking more than $1 billion in investments. It is a transformative step toward building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities across Africa,” he said.
Both institutions are members of the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), underscoring their shared commitment to collaborative financing mechanisms that strengthen economic growth on the continent.
The initiative comes as IATF2025 is expected to generate more than $44 billion in trade and investment deals, highlighting the role of multilateral partnerships in driving Africa’s development agenda.
