Workshop Presentations

The Working Group's first housing microfinance workshop was well-attended by resprentatives from both the financial and housing sectors. The following presentations were given, followed by discussions:

The Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania

An Introduction to Housing Microfinance

Housing Microfinance Models in Tanzania

Opportunities and Challenges in Housing Microfinance

For more information about The Housing Microfinance Working Group, you may contact us by email at: The Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania

An Introduction to Housing Microfinance

A Workshop Presented by the

Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania

At the Russian Cultural Centre, Dar es Salaam

8^th June 2011 – 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Opening: Tim Ndezi (Centre for Community Initiatives)
• Keynote Address: Charles Mafuru (Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development)
• Housing Microfinance Working Group: Kenneth Sinare (Tanzania Financial Services for Under-Served Settlments.
• What is Housing Microfinance?: Jamie Ritchie (Rooftops Canada)
• Housing Microfinance Models in Tanzania: Scott Metzel (Habitat for Humanity Tanzania)
• Opportunities and Challenges in Housing Microfinance: Stephen Wanjala (WAT Human Settlements / Rooftops Canada)
• Open Discussion: Stephen Wanjala and Jamie Ritchie
• Closing: Tim Ndezi

Credit Officer Qualifications

At a recent working group meeting, one topic of discussion was the qualifications for housing microfinance credit officers. One institution present had recently changed from hiring university graduates to hiring credit officers with diplomas or secondary school education and it noted an improvement in performance. Other institutions still believe that it is essential to recruit staff with university education. All present agreed that getting the right staff on the ground is essential for good performance.

Housing Microfinance Working Group in 2011

PRIORITY AREAS FOR 2011

The Working Group held its first meeting for 2011 with members from the Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI), Desjardins International Development (DID), Habitat for Humanity Tanzania (HFHT), The Presidential Trust Fund (PTF), PRIDE Tanzania, Tanzania Financial Services for Underserved Settlements (TASFUS) and WAT Human Settlements Trust in attendance. Continuing discussions from the last meeting of 2010, the members decided on the following priority areas for the Working Group in 2011:

1. Market Segmentation and Product Definition: What is the market (or markets) for Housing Microfinance and how can Housing Microfinance products effectively respond to those markets?
2. Land, Planning, Regulations and Standards: What roles do land play in Housing Microfinance in terms of access to land by clients and institutions as well as loan security? What do plans, regulations and standards mean for Housing Microfinance? There are divergent views on these issues within the Working Group and they will be explored in future meetings.
3. Access to Transparent Information: There appears to be a lack of transparency within the industry at large. As we develop Housing Microfinance products and the practice of Housing Microfinance in Tanzania, how transparent are we about our products, progress and performance?
4. Trouble Shooting Sessions: The Working Group will identify operational challenges experienced by members' Housing Microfinance programs and attempt to find solutions to improve service and performance.

HOUSING MICROFINANCE WORKSHOP

The Working Group is preparing to host a small, informal Housing Microfinance workshop for interested parties in Tanzania that tentatively may address the following topics:

• What is Housing Microfinance: An introduction to the practice.
• Housing Microfinance Models in Tanzania: A brief presentation on how the Housing Microfinance looks "on the ground" as implemented by various member institutions. (There are a variety of models and approaches within the practice - even within Dar es Salaam).
• Opportunities and Challenges: What might the future hold for Housing Microfinance in Tanzania and how can the practice be advanced?
• Housing Microfinance and Government Policy: The Government of Tanzania is leading some initiatives related to housing finance. How does Housing Microfinance fit in?

The workshop is expected to take place in May or June 2011.

Next Working Group Meeting: 23rd February

Working Group Office Bearers Elected

The working group met on 20th October 2010 to elect office bearers and discuss the opportunities and challenges of Housing Microfinance based on  a presentation made by WAT SACCOS as the previous meeting. Present at the meeting were representatives from The Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI), Habitat for Humanity Tanzania, The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development, The Presidential Trust Fund (PTF), WAT Human Settlements and WAT SACCOS. As per a decision at the previous meeting, office bearing positions would be assigned to institutions, rather than individuals, for a period of one year. The following officers were elected:

Chair: WAT Human Settlments

Secretary: Habitat for Humanity Tanzania

Treasurer: TAFSUS (Tanzania Financial Service for Under-Served Settlements)

Meeting on 29th September 2010

The Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania met today with 10 people present. After beginning discussion on developing by laws, WAT Human Settlements gave a presentation on Providing Effective Housing Support Services. WAT SACCOS gave an introduction to a presentation on Housing Microfinance: Challenges and Opportunities.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 20th October 2010. Elections will be held for working group officials and there will be a discussion of the presentations given by WAT.

Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania

The Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania was formed in November 2009 at a meeting of representatives of the Centre for Community Initiatives (CCI), Habitat for Humanity Tanzania, the Tanzania Gatsby Trust (TGT) and WAT Human Settlements Trust. The group has since been expanded to include Akiba Commerical Bank, PRIDE Tanzania, Habitat Forum Tanzania (HAFOTA), the Presidential Trust Fund, Tanzania Financial Services for Under Served Settlements (TAFSUS), WAT SACCOS and representatives from the Bank of Tanzania and Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of the Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania is to promote and advance the practice of sustainable housing microfinance in Tanzania.

The Housing Microfinance Working Group Tanzania intends to accomplish its purpose through these objectives:


• Networking among working group members and sharing information, lessons learned, ideas and documentation on housing microfinance


• Identifying, Documenting and Disseminating Best Practices among members and other relevant parties.


• Promoting housing microfinance to potential donors and providers of capital for the sector, potential practitioners and housing support service providers.


• Advocating and Lobbying for an enabling environment for the practice of housing microfinance.


• Encouraging members to share client credit references.


• Linking to similar groups and parties interested in housing microfinance within and outside of Tanzania.

The working group meets monthly in Dar es Salaam toi discuss developments in the practice of housing microfinance in Tanzania.