History of RHUDO housing loan guaranty program in Cote d'Ivoire

Over the past 25 years, RHUDO concentrated on four project types: middle income home ownership, lower income neighborhood upgrading and servicing, community facilities, and municipal strengthening. By 1992, 36 subprojects had been implemented through HG programs, with investments totaling $70 million. These brought direct benefits to 1,600 households through home purchase and 2,800 more through rental accommodations, and reached over one million beneficiaries through neighborhood upgrading and community service activities. Some of the subprojects showed a sharp departure from previous policies in city housing and urban development. In some cases these new approaches, coupled with the difficulties of coordinating the various agencies working on the projects, brought difficulties and delays. Difficulties were related to: (1) institutional capacity; (2) attitudes towards cost recovery; (3) the reluctance of project agencies to seek lower, more affordable construction standards; (4) inter-agency project management; and (5) the integration of project components with programs and operations. HG investments in Cote d'Ivoire have had major impacts on how urban issues are analyzed, and on how solutions are formulated and implemented. Evidence of impact is seen in the following areas: (1) a national policy of decentralization; (2) institutional development, training, and human development; (3) direct project benefits including poverty impacts; and (4) private sector shelter and service provision. Substantial momentum has been created by the more than two decades of RHUDO activity. Urban development is now recognized as a significant part of the development process which generates national capital. Despite some problems, these projects provided valuable experience in such areas as municipal strengthening and financial management. Further, RHUDO's experience over 25 years with 36 subprojects demonstrates the importance of a long-term perspective on institutional and sectoral questions, particularly with regard to sustainability. Appendixes include subproject profiles.