Genevieve Drouin is Executive Director of Rooftops Canada – Abri International
Advancing Equal Rights to Land, Housing, and Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa
Around the world, the privatization and commodification of housing and land have led to devastating consequences: rising evictions, dispossession, and displacement. These trends have pushed the number of people living in inadequate conditions to 1.6 billion—a figure that could climb to a staggering 3 billion by 2030. Sub-Saharan Africa has been particularly affected, with 23% of the region’s urban population living in informal settlements. Women and children bear the brunt of this crisis, as socio-economic vulnerabilities and systemic barriers—economic, legislative, social, and cultural—continue to obstruct their access to adequate housing and land, fundamental to their human rights.
To address these challenges and uphold human rights commitments and sustainable development goals, Rooftops Canada and Global Affairs Canada are spearheading a five-year project, Women’s Spaces, Equal Rights to Land, Housing, and Livelihoods. This initiative, implemented in Angola, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda, takes a multi-country approach in collaboration with local partners, all members of the HIC Africa network. The project aims to ensure women’s access to, use of, and control over housing, land, and livelihoods, creating a foundation for long-term empowerment.
On August 8, 2024, HIC Africa members convened an online learning and experience-sharing session to discuss the progress and insights from the project’s women-centered spaces. The session highlighted remarkable outcomes not only in the four implementing countries but also across the broader region. Partners expressed a strong commitment to deepening their engagement in the learning and advocacy components of the project for its remaining duration.
Later in November 2024, during the HIC networking event at the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, Egypt, the Africa region celebrated a moment of recognition and gratitude. Represented by Moussa Ka, Africa Board Representative, and Desmond Chieshe, Africa Coordinator, the region honored Genevieve Drouin, Executive Director of Rooftops Canada, for her organization’s outstanding contributions to advancing housing and land rights in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This initiative and its collaborative milestones underscore the power of partnership, learning, and advocacy in tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time. By empowering women and promoting equal access to land, housing, and livelihoods, we move closer to a future where everyone can realize their habitat-related human rights.
For more info: www.rooftops.ca/womens-spaces-project
