A landmark development for housing in Sierra Leone has seen the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning announce a strategic partnership with Shelter Afrique aimed at expanding access to affordable housing and revitalizing the nation’s social housing sector.
Under the new arrangement, a $20 million mortgage credit line has been established with Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB), designed to increase financing options for homebuyers. In parallel, a dedicated facility will support the revitalization of the Sierra Leone Housing Corporation (SALHOC), strengthening the country’s capacity to deliver social housing for lower and middle-income families.
Adding to the significance of this partnership, Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie, has been appointed by Shelter Afrique as Chair of the Technical Committee of the ECOWAS Housing Ministers, reflecting Sierra Leone’s growing role in regional housing policy and development.
This initiative comes after extensive consultations between the Ministry and Shelter Afrique, including Minister Turad Senesie’s participation in this year’s Shelter Afrique Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Algeria, highlighting the country’s commitment to leveraging regional and international expertise to improve housing access.
Speaking on the milestone, Minister Turad Senesie said, “Housing for all Sierra Leoneans is a central pillar of our governance agenda. The SLCB mortgage line and SALHOC revitalization translate policy into action, widening access to affordable financing and strengthening social housing for lower- and middle-income families.”
The Ministry emphasized that those facilities are part of a broader ‘housing-for-all’ objective, leveraging Shelter Afrique’s support alongside local financial institutions to accelerate the delivery of durable and affordable homes nationwide.
The collaboration signals a new era in Sierra Leone’s housing sector, combining financial innovation with strategic planning to ensure that more citizens can achieve homeownership and benefit from secure, quality housing.
