Undoubtedly, one of the biggest challenges facing the MENA region today, similar to other regions across the globe, is affordable housing. Countries across the region are facing critical affordability pressures with the rising cost of housing, combined with stagnant wages, creating an affordable housing gap.

To address this issue, the MENA region’s governments and civil society sector have responded with a wide range of policies, programmes, and approaches to increase access to affordable and adequate housing among those who need it the most.

This plenary session will bring together housing experts from Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia to discuss the state of affordable housing in the region and efforts being made towards closing the housing gap.

Moderator

Ashraf Eid

National Director
Habitat for Humanity Egypt (HfHE)

Ashraf Eid is the National Director of Habitat for Humanity Egypt. He is a top performing senior economic and development professional with over 25 years of experience

Mona Fawwaz

Professor of Urban Planning
American University of Beirut (AUB)

Mona Fawaz is Professor in Urban Studies and Planning at the American University of Beirut and a research lead/co-founder of the Beirut Urban Lab

Mounia Tagma

International housing policy expert
World Bank and the International Finance Corporation

Mounia Tagma is a housing policy consultant whose work focuses on affordable housing issues in MENA and African countries. She currently works on housing projects for the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation in MENA and Africa

Emna Bouhali

Lead Architect
Ministère de l’Equipement et de l’Habitat

Amina El Bouhali is the Chief Architect and Deputy Director of Real Estate Development and Monitoring at the General Directorate of Housing at the Ministry of Equipment and Housing.

Sherif Mostafa

CEO
Al Watania Group for Awqaf Investments

Dr. Engineer Sherif Ahmed Mostafa Kamal (Age: 42 years). Currently Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering.Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Endowment Investments Group.

Mohammed Benjelloun

General Manager Drâa-Tafilalet
Al Omrane Group

Mohammed Benjelloun is a State engineer in Civil Engineering, graduate of the Hassania School of Public Works in Casablanca in 1998.