Financing Urban Futures SouthSouth Bank Pathways for Housing and City Development

Public and development banks are often the backbone of housing and urban development systems in the Global South, especially where long-term finance, affordability, climate resilience, and institutional capacity must be built simultaneously. This networking event convenes public banks, multilateral development institutions and policymakers to exchange practical approaches to scale adequate housing and strengthen inclusive urban development. Anchored in Brazil’s experience, CAIXA will share implementation lessons from delivering housing at scale through the Minha Casa, Minha Vida (MCMV) program, reportedly contracting over 2 million units between 2023 and 2025, and from expanding policy tools beyond new-build delivery, including housingI mprovement/upgrade and retrofit approaches. The session will explore how public banks can (1) reduce financial exclusion, (2) align housing investments with urban infrastructure and services, (3) crowd in private capital, and (4) build resilience and sustainability into large-scale programs without undermining affordability. To ground the discussion in actionable cooperation, the session will bring together perspectives across Africa, Asia and Latin America, highlighting complementary mandates and regional innovations from invited institutions.