Affordable Housing & Technology

Home is Where the Future Begins

Everyone has the right to have a safe place to call home

Our Affordable Housing & Technology focus area engages in projects that change how low-income families build and live. Together with our partners, we develop innovative housing solutions improving the resilience of entire communities, laying the basis for comprehensive social development.

Affordable Housing & Technology

Adequate housing is a human right, essential for social and economic development. Yet governments are struggling to meet the housing needs of their citizens. Globally, 2.8 billion people currently face housing inadequacy, 1.1 billion of them living in slums of the metropolitan cities of the Global South. By 2030, the global housing backlog is expected to grow to 60 million units, requiring the construction of 96,000 homes every single day.

We aim to change how these families build and live. We are convinced that better and safer homes provide the basis for families to start their journey into a better life. Discover how our initiatives contribute to building better futures.

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Key Initiatives

Bamboo

The Base Bahay Foundation is a leading global competence center for bamboo construction innovating building solutions and pursuing fundamental research of bamboo as a building material. Building on this know-how, the Base Bahay Foundation develops entire industries aiming to deliver green and disaster-resilient housing focusing on the needs of disadvantaged families - currently in the Philippines and Nepal. This includes enterprise development, financing schemes as well as collaboration with governments on professional codes and standards for bamboo construction. Using its know-how, BASE also supports bamboo entrepreneurs and regulators worldwide in driving bamboo construction as a green alternative to conventional building acitivites.

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Housing Systems

To create lasting change in the housing sector, we must address all key aspects of the housing challenge. Through our Housing Systems program, we work to develop targeted products and services, establish supply chains into informal neighborhoods, ensure quality of construction practices, facilitate access to housing finance and land, and advocate for targeted policies and regulations. By connecting these elements, we aim to positively impact housing ecosystems in the Global South and ultimately improve the quality of life in vulnerable communities.

Training the Builders

Ensuring safer housing requires more than just advanced technology; proper implementation is key. In partnership with public authorities and private firms, we raise awareness among self-managed and informal builders about better construction practices using innovative, high-quality building materials. We also integrate certified training programs into their portfolios, ensuring builders are equipped with the skills needed for safer and more effective construction in low-cost environments.