Lafarge has launched a microfinance programme for
affordable housing. This represents an initial concrete response to one of the
nine main ambitions of the SUSTAINABILITY AMBITIONS 2020 plan announced by Lafarge. The objective is to enable
2 million people to have access to affordable and sustainable housing between
now and 2020.
The microfinance programme is targeted at people in
emerging markets with low purchasing power to help them finance the
construction, extension or renovation of their homes. The programme will be first launched in Indonesia,
Honduras, Zambia, the Philippines
and Nigeria.
For the project, Lafarge has joined forces with CHF
International (Cooperative Housing Foundation), an NGO with more than 40 years'
experience in housing microfinance and 60 years in urban and housing solutions. Other partnerships
will be formed with NGOs or public organisations to support the development of
the project. The programme should involve around €10 million over the next two
years.
Lafarge will work in
partnerships with local microfinance institutions to grant loans of an average
of €2,000 over a term of two to three years. Lafarge offers an innovative
approach, helping borrowers during the various stages of their construction
project. Counsellors trained and managed by Lafarge will offer personalised
support, which may include an architect visit or drawing up plans.
The Group's approach aims to provide custom-made
responses suited to the needs of local populations. More than 1 billion people are currently unable to access decent
housing. Faced with this challenge,
Lafarge - world leader in construction materials - has developed a strong expertise
in the area of affordable housing. To identify these needs as best possible,
Lafarge draws on its local presence and partners - such as NGOs, public
authorities, developers and banks - involving them in the implementation of its
affordable housing construction projects. In order to make this a long-term
approach, Lafarge funds projects with a profitable business models.
General information
Located in 64 countries with 68,000
employees, Lafarge is a world leader
in building materials, with top-ranking positions in its Cement, Aggregates
& Concrete businesses. In 2011, Lafarge posted sales of 15.3 billion
euros.
For the second year in a row, Lafarge ranked
amongst the top-10 of 500 companies evaluated by the "Carbon Disclosure
Project" in recognition of their strategy and actions against global
warming. With the world's leading building materials research facility, Lafarge
places innovation at the heart of its priorities, working for sustainable
construction and architectural creativity.
