HUD at the 2024 Pan African City Exposition: Forging Partnerships to Support Housing Goals

By Meron Habte, IPAD Program Analyst

In late June 2024, the US Africa Collaborative, in partnership with the University of Maryland and Bowie State University, hosted the second Pan African City Exposition at Bowie State University. The exposition, held from June 26 to June 29, brought together academics, government officials, civil servants, and private-sector practitioners to discuss housing security and human settlements in the context of global housing insecurities, climate change, urbanization, real estate development, and innovative building technologies. The previous exposition, held in 2022 as a hybrid conference from Durban, South Africa, served as a platform for hosting discussion panels, presenting research papers, and networking.

Dr. Calvin Johnson, deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Monitoring; Cindy Campbell, director of the International and Philanthropic Affairs Division; and I represented HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research at the exposition, where Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman delivered the opening remarks. Addressing a large delegation consisting of representatives from African nations, Todman highlighted President Biden's commitment "to promoting resilience and adaptation across the African continent," emphasizing the importance of increasing opportunities for collaboration and partnerships. In her speech, Todman noted that in 2023, President Biden committed to investing $55 billion in Africa over 3 years to address various issues, including digital access and economic growth. This investment is in addition to the $7 billion commitment from the private sector to invest in areas such as clean energy and transportation across the continent.

Acting Secretary Todman also observed that numerous Cabinet officials and leaders of various U.S. government departments and agencies have been visiting the continent "in an effort to expand substantive and meaningful partnership." The exposition served as an opportunity to expand those efforts through a meeting among the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; the State of Maryland; and South Africa's housing ministry, the National Department of Human Settlements. Led by Secretary Jake Day from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the meeting presented an opportunity to determine future virtual exchanges between all parties involved.

Dr. Tshepang Mosiea, Chief Director of Innovation for Inclusive Development in South Africa's Department of Science and Innovation, and Dr. Nana Mhlongo, Deputy Director-General of Research, Policy, Strategy, and Planning in South Africa's Department of Human Settlements, who led the South African delegation, noted during the meeting that, much like the United States, South Africa is focusing on innovation, disaster management, climate change, and creating more affordable housing.

Dr. Mosiea mentioned that affordable housing is a pressing issue in South Africa because of rapid urbanization and a shortage of available housing. According to the Department of Human Settlements website, the South African government has been trying to address this lack of access through initiatives such as the Social Housing Programme, which provides rental housing for low-income families.

Dr. Mhlongo noted that recent natural disasters such as extreme flooding have further exacerbated this lack of access to housing and highlighted the importance of focusing on disaster management and climate change to address housing inequities.

The exposition offered numerous opportunities for researchers and practitioners to discuss topics such as the impact of social housing in South African cities, climate resiliency, community participation in sustainable infrastructure development, and sustainability in the construction industry.