Building a Global South Housing Data Network: Evidence, Partnerships and Action

Access to reliable, comparable and timely housing data is a critical bottleneck for designing effective housing policies worldwide, particularly across the Global South. Rapid urbanization, affordability pressures, climate risks and informality demand evidence-based solutions, yet many countries and cities still lack harmonized information systems to guide decision-making, investment and policy reform. This Networking Event aims to launch a collaborative dialogue toward a Global South Housing Data Network, building on the experience of the Housing Yearbook of Latin America and the Caribbean, jointly developed by CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Inspired by similar initiatives in Africa and aligned with global data platforms, the Yearbook demonstrates how systematic, comparable data can directly improve housing policy design, financing strategies and institutional coordination. The event is designed as a solution-oriented, interactive networking space rather than a traditional panel. It will bring together multilateral organizations, development banks, research institutions, public agencies, and practitioners from different regions of the Global South to explore how regional housing data initiatives can connect, scale and reinforce each other. The session will unfold in three complementary moments. First, a high-level framing will outline the global housing challenge and the central role of data in shaping resilient and inclusive housing policies. Second, a moderated conversation will showcase concrete experiences from existing housing data initiatives, highlighting lessons learned, practical uses of information, and institutional challenges. Third, participants will engage in facilitated thematic exchanges to identify shared data gaps, opportunities for collaboration, and pathways to join or contribute to a global network.