Cocoa Houses is a culturally inclusive and sustainable real estate program that gives informal workers in Africa a real path to homeownership. By combining mobile money, a rent to own system and climate smart housing built with local materials, we help families move from invisible renters to recognised economic actors with assets they can pass on.
Project context
Across West Africa, millions of families pay rent every month without ever having the chance to own the place where they live. Most of them work in the informal economy, with no salary slips, no banking history and no collateral. For traditional banks they simply do not exist, even though they sustain local economies every day.
Cocoa Houses was created to change this reality. Our vision is simple, if people are already paying rent, then these payments should become a bridge to homeownership, financial inclusion and generational wealth.
About the project
A rent to own village model, designed for real life. Cocoa Houses is a real estate development program that allows informal workers to access property through a fintech enabled rent to own system.
Groceries, marketplaces, craft ateliers, repair workshops and childcare
Adobe and compressed earth
Adapted to their lifestyle and family structure
Including solar panels, rainwater collection and water purification where needed
How it works
Deployment
Cocoa Houses will first be developed in West Africa, with a focus on
And soon, we will be all over Africa.
Project leaders
Provides the digital backbone that enables rent to own tracking through mobile money, generates solvency data and helps build financial identity for residents.
Develops the architectural concepts and manages the construction process, using sustainable techniques, local materials and community based approaches.
Coordinates the program, builds partnerships with local authorities and financial institutions, and ensures impact and governance.
We are building Cocoa Houses as a platform that welcomes
• Local authorities and land agencies
• Banks and microfinance institutions
• Impact investors and blended finance actors
• Cooperatives and professional associations
• Research institutions working on housing, urbanisation and financial inclusion
If you would like to pilot Cocoa Houses in your city or support the model through funding, technology or research, the Bafing Projects team would be happy to talk.
Phone
+(41) 76 396 00 93
+(225) 07 04 73 01 01
Email
info@bafing.ch
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