Ministry of Housing, Lands and Urban Planning
Bamako Mali
Shelter Afrique's Board shares the responsibility of directing the institution's strategic goals, and the implementation of the same by the rest of the organisation.
Each Board member brings to Shelter Afrique valuable experience and perspective that is core to the quality of operations and advancement of our mandate as we look to support our members and champion affordable housing for all Africans.
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Mr. Thierno-Habib Hann is the Chief Executive Officer of Shelter Afrique, the Pan-African institution for housing. He joined Shelter Afrique from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where he served as the Asia/Pacific Lead for housing finance, based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Mr. Hann has extensive international experience in housing finance, capital markets/investment banking and structured finance spanning over 20 years. He brings a wealth of leadership experience in development and investment, sharp insight into the real estate landscape and a strong track record of delivery.
Mr. Hann began his career at the consulting firm Arthur Andersen, LLC as a Senior Consultant in Financial Services and Capital Markets in New York City. He has worked at JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs as Manager and Vice President, respectively, and led investment teams issuing mortgage-backed securities (RMBS/CMOs) and credit derivatives (CDS)
He also served at the World Bank Group as the Private Sector Development Program Manager in Guinea, responsible for designing and implementing the investment climate improvement program while developing a bankable pipeline of investments and government advisory projects in strategic sectors of the economy.
Mr. Hann holds an MBA in Finance & Investments from the Zicklin School of Business, Bernard Baruch, City University of New York; a master’s degree in Accounting and Finance (M.S.T.C.F) and a bachelor’s degree in Management and Applied Economics (GEA), from University Paris IX Dauphine, with honors.
A native of Guinea (Conakry), Habib is the co-founder of "AngelAfrica" – a Pan-African thinktank formed to achieve economic prosperity on the continent by building and fostering innovation, investors and business partnerships.
Head of Project Finance group (PFG)
Mr. Yankho Chitsime has 14 years’ experience in executive management and deals making in the affordable housing space, including principal investing, property development, project finance advisory work, debt capital raising, and financial management in South Africa and numerous countries across the African continent. Yankho holds a BBA in Accounting (Andrews University, Michigan, USA), Postgraduate training in Property Development (UCT, RSA) and Management Development (GIBS, RSA).
Head of Enterprise Risk Management
Bernard is a Kenyan national. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration majoring in strategic management from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor Degree in Business Information Technology from Strathmore University. He has over twelve years of work experience in enterprise risk management.
He previously worked for Deloitte & Touche in the Risk Advisory practice for nine years from 2007 to 2016 before joining the Co-operative Bank of Kenya, a top tier one bank, as a Senior Risk Manager, where he worked for three years before joining Shelter Afrique. His key achievements include many years of developing and implementing enterprise risk management programmes.
Head Public & Private Partnerships and Sovereign Lending Group All Regions. And Regional Lead North, West, and Central Africa.
With over 18 years of experience in the banking and investment industry, Edmond is a seasoned professional with a strong track record in structuring and financing integrated large-scale projects. He worked in commercial banking for Ecobank and at Shelter-Afrique, a Development Financial Institution, where He held various levels of responsibility including Regional Business Manager for North, West, and Central Africa.
He holds an MBA in Banking and Finance from the African Centre of Higher Education in Management (CESAG – Dakar Senegal) and an Engineer Degree in Statistics and Demography from the High School of Applied Economy (ESEA – Ex ENEA. Dakar Senegal). His expertise includes bank financing, financial services, and market finance, as well as the structuring and financing of residential and commercial real estate programs.
In addition to his work experience, he served on the Board of Directors of the Regional Mortgage Refinancing Fund of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (CRRH-UEMOA) and was previously a member of the Credit Committee of Ecobank Benin. He also served as Head of Department Public Sector & Local Corporates at Ecobank Benin and Head of Division Studies/Research - Informal Sector & Employment at INSAE Benin (Ministry of Development). Edmond is Fluent in both French and English.
Head of Legal Services
Houda is a Moroccan national. She is the proud holder of two Masters degree, one in International law from Hassan II University in Casablanca, Morocco and the other in Business Law from the University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD) in France.
She brings on board 14 years’ experience of practising law from established law firms and the banking industry. Her last engagement was at the Bank of Africa holding where she was the Group Corporate Legal Manager. In her previous roles, she provided legal counsel to project financing, investment appraisals, contracts management, undertaking legal audits among others. She is trilingual as she speaks Arabic, English and French fluently.
Head of Policy, Research and Partnership
Dr. Gambo is a Nigerian National. He is a Quantity Surveyor, Public Private Partnerships (PPP) transaction advisor and Sustainable Development advocate with expertise in consulting, lecturing, strategic and policy research.
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy and Master’s in Real Estate and Facilities Management from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia; And a bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He is a registered Quantity Surveyor and a member of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.
Furthermore, Dr Gambo is a member of the United Nations University acknowledged Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development; Member of Community of Practice (CoP) on Financing for Development, United Nations Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR); And Expert, Inclusive Policy Lab at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Dr Gambo has a track record of publications including several International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) recognized journals and conference proceedings.
His research and policy interests includes affordable housing delivery, innovative financing techniques for infrastructure projects, infrastructure reform and regulation, built environment research techniques & methodology and sustainable development.
Head of Credit and Operations
Christopher has over 20 years extensive experience in setting up and managing housing finance operations; from deal origination and underwriting to processing and has also been closely involved in business turnaround situations across Pan African flagship institutions.
He is also a contributing member to industry umbrella bodies and societies including the African Real Estate Society (AFRES), the Global Real Estate Society (GRI), the East African Property Investments (EAPI) and serves as a keynote speaker at Makerere University's School of Real Estate.
Company Secretary
Mrs. Juliette Kavaruganda is a Rwandan national. She is a holder of a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Louvain (UCL, Louvain la Neuve) Belgium, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Institute of Legal Practice and Development and an Advanced Degree in Law, management of Information and Communication Technologies from Faculté Universitaire Notre Dame de la Paix of Namur, Belgium.
She brings on board 15+ years’ experience of practicing law from established law firms providing professional legal advice to different organizations and specifically near to 10 years of corporate governance, banking and insurance experience with several organizations in Africa. Her leverage is in international legal background in Europe and Africa, with a strong capacity to synthesize critical issues with various stakeholders, including Boards, CEO’s and Shareholders. She is Bilingual as she speaks English and French fluently.
Head of Human Capital
Charles Kazuka pursued his undergraduate studies at Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda) and postgraduate studies at the University of Leicester (UK). He has more than 20 years’ experience in transformational and strategic Human Resources across East, West and Southern Africa. Charles’s experience is mostly in the financial services sector having worked as HR director for leading institutions such as Barclays Bank (Tanzania and Ghana) NMB Bank (Tanzania) and was the regional HR director for East and West Africa for British Petroleum (BP).
He joins us from Pharo Ventures, a leading Social Enterprise in Kenya. Charles is also a chartered certified HR professional.
Acting Chief Financial Officer
Beatrice Mburu holds an MBA from Warwick Business School (United Kingdom) and a BSc in International Business Administration-Finance. She is also a qualified Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Member of the Institute of Certified Accountant. She has 23 years of progressive wealth of hands-on experience in Corporate Financial Management (i.e., Financial Planning, Control and Reporting), Budgeting, Debt restructuring, Treasury Management, and Fundraising in the international and Debt Capital Market, including Euro Bonds. She has worked in Treasury and Finance departments at the African Export Import Bank (Afrexim). She has also held various senior finance roles in Standard Chartered Bank, Bombardier Uganda Limited and DHL Logistics.Chairperson of the Board of Directors
Dr Chii Akporji is a results-driven development finance professional with over 20 years’ experience in designing and managing the execution of complex programs and projects in in urban development and housing finance spaces in industrializing economies in Africa, Asia and Latin America to sustainable impact.
She had a successful 15-year career with the World Bank Group in Washington DC, working primarily on country response programs to rampaging urbanization and climate change, where she set a solid track record for originating government, private sector and CSO partnerships to implement reforms to improve city planning and growth through urban policy development, slum upgrading and city development plans, mainstreaming mitigation and adaptation processes in Sam’s while enhancing cities competitiveness and credit worthiness. Key multiplier effects unlocked include improved access to basic services for citizens, jobs creation, wealth creation and increased GDP ratios for the specific economies.
Dr. Akporji has also served as a Senior Advisor to a world renown development economist, former Managing Director of the World Bank Group and currently Director General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, when she worked as the Nigerian Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister for the Economy. Then, she played key roles in the conceptualization and delivery of several economic policy reforms with tangible results for the Nigerian economy, including the achievement of an average GDP growth of 6%, making Nigeria then one of the fastest growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa; reduced tax to GDP ratios, the institution of e-governance technology platforms to enhance transparency of operations and cost efficiencies, grew FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and the rebasing of the country’s GDP data by the IMF to re-position it as the largest economy in Africa.
She coordinated the set-up and operationalization of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), the first mortgage refinance institution in the country with a US$300 million IDA loan from the World Bank. She served as Board member and Executive Director, superintending business development, partnerships, the de-risking of a nascent mortgage and complex housing market through streamlining underwriting processes, originating a model mortgage market and foreclosure law and the deployment of an end to end technology infrastructure to enhance efficiency of systems and processes, transparency and cost effectiveness along the entire housing market value chain.
Dr Akporji is currently CEO of ALPHACITIES Consulting LLC, her own consulting firm with headquarters in Washington DC providing bespoke advisory services to clients as wide ranging as the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Gates Foundation, a number of state governments in Nigeria and the African Development Bank, which she represents on the board of directors of Shelter Afrique, the pan-African housing finance institution headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
A well-published author and a passionate community activist, Dr Akporji got her Bachelor’s degree in Arts from University College Dublin, Ireland, a Masters’ degree from the University of Ottawa, Canada and a Doctorate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. She also holds professional certificates and diplomas from Harvard, University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School and Wharton.
Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors
Board Member
Board Experience
Mr. Ephraim Kiiza K. Bichetero has held leadership roles in several institutions and brings a wealth of experience in matters audit, risk and finance:
• Regional Director / Head of Mission of Africa Reinsurance Corporation.
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Company for Habitat & Housing in Africa (Shelter Afrique).
• Member of the Audit, Governance &Risk Management Committee for Insurance Training & Education Trust (ITET).
• Member of the Board of Organization of East & Southern Africa Insurers.
• Member of the Risk Evaluation Committee for the Insurance Regulatory Authority, Kenya.
• Technical & Reinsurance Manager of United Assurance Company Ltd. (UAP Insurance).
Skills & Competencies
• Administration
• Impeccable knowledge of reinsurance
• Accounting & Finance Competence
• Audit, Governance & Risk Expertise
Academic Qualifications
• Global Executive Master of Business Administration Degree, United States International University in collaboration with the Colombia Business School – Kenya.
• Credit & Political Risk Insurance by Euro Money.
• Associated Chartered Insurance Institute (London) -United Kingdom.
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Makerere University – Uganda.
Nairobi Office Regional Director/ Head of Mission | AFRICA RE (African Reinsurance Corporation)
Physical & Postal Address: P.O. Box 62328 – 00200, City Square, Nairobi, KENYA
Board Member
Skills & Competencies
• Monitoring and management of banking risks
• Banking Audit, Compliance and Inspection
• Internal control; Mobile Money compliance
• Corporate Governance
• Banking Regulation and Management of applications for the licensing of banking and microfinance institutions.
• Fight against Money laundering and terrorist financing
• Rapid payment and money transfer systems
• External Financial Relations
• Financial instruments and bank liquidity factors
• Financing and structuring of real estate
projects.
Academic Qualifications
• French Diploma of Chartered Accountancy (DEC)
• DESS (Master 2) Accounting Control Audit, University of Paris 1, Panthéon-Sorbonne.
Managing Director of the Malian Housing Bureau
Ministry of Housing, Lands and Urban Planning
Bamako Mali
Executive Director Ministry of Urban and Rural Development
Board Experience
Mr. Nghidinua M. Daniel has served as a board member in several institutions:
• Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Namibia Tourism Board.
• Board Member of Walvis Bay Corridor Group.
• Board Member of the Offshore Development Company (Pty) Limited.
Skills & Competencies
• Housing Development
• Business Management Skills
• General Management & Leadership Skills
• Planning, Appraisal & Monitoring of Investment Projects
Academic Qualifications
• Executive Education Program on “Leaders in Development: Managing Change in a Dynamic World”, Harvard Kennedy School of Government –United States of America (2011).
• Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Public Policy & Management, University of London / School of Oriental & African Studies – United Kingdom (2003).
• Certificate of Achievement in Planning & Analysis of Investment Projects, University of Oslo / International Summer School in collaboration with Institute of Development Management (IDM) – Botswana (2003).
• Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) in Public Policy & Management, University of London / School of Oriental & African Studies – United Kingdom (2002).
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Certificate of Achievement in Financial Management, Marketing Management, Operations Management, Human Resource, Business & Corporate Strategy Modules, Centre for Management Development – South Africa (2003).
• Bachelor of Administration (BA) Degree in Economics &
Development Administration, University of South Africa –
South Africa (1997).
Countries in Group
BOTSWANA, LESOTHO, MALAWI, NAMIBIA, RWANDA, TANZANIA, ZAMBIA
Audit Risk and Finance Chairman and Strategy Committee Member
Board Experience
Mr. Charles M. Hinga has held leadership roles in several institutions, both private and public:
• Permanent Secretary (PS), State Department for Housing & Urban Development.
• Chairperson and Member of the Board of Directors of the Company for Habitat & Housing in Africa (Shelter Afrique).
• Consulting Professional of the Year, South Africa Professional Services Awards (2016)
Skills & Competencies
• Project Design
• Negotiation
• Resource Mobilization
• Financial Analysis
• Structuring of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)
Academic Qualifications
• Chartered Accountant.
• Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) Degree, Kenyatta University – Kenya.
• Bachelor of Accounting Science Degree, University of South Africa – South Africa.
Physical & Postal Address
Ministry of Transport Infrastructure Housing & Urban Development
Ardhi House – 6th Floor, 1st Ngong Avenue
P.O. Box 30119,
Nairobi.
KENYA
Group 1
Countries in Group
Independent Board Director
Board Experience
• Independent Director and Chairman of Board, Zedcrest Capital Ltd Group, 2019 to date( licensed by CBN, SEC and FMDQ).
• Independent Director and Chairman of Board of Ladgroup Ltd, 2019 to date.
• Senior Partner and Head, Transaction Advisory West Africa, Ernst&Young, 2006 to 2016.
• Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Director for Societe Bank Ltd for Liquidation, 2006.
• Senior Partner, AS&P Consultants, 2001 to 2005.
• Managing Director/CEO, Banque International du Benin Cotonu, 1999 to 2001.
• Executive Director, Wema Bank Plc, Nigeria, 1994 to 1999.
• Chief Accountant, Universal Trust Bank Ltd Nigeria.
• Others, 1980 to 1991, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Senior Consultant.
COUNTRIES
Audit Risk and Finance Committee Member
Skills & Competencies
• Strategic Planning & Policy Formulation
• Leadership, Team-building & Empowerment
• Budget Planning & Cost Control
• Process Improvement & Quality Control
• Staff Training & Capacity Development
• Customer Service Relations
• Relationship Management
• Marketing Financial Services
• Project Conceptualization & Management
• Revenue Growth Generation
Academic Qualifications
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) 1985
• Bachelor of Laws, LL.B (Hons) Unilag, 2000
• Barrister at Law, B.L. 2002
• Associate, Chartered Institute of Bankers, London, UK. (ACIB) 1984
• Fellow, Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria (FCIB) 2008
MD/CEO Global Trust Savings and Loans Limited
Plot 740, Adeola Hopewell St, V/Island, Lagos Nigeria