Publication database

This report, written for entrepreneurs and investors, reviews the case for affordable housing sector in Kenya. It covers strategies to bring down the cost of construction and the housing ecosystem and concludes with six key components of success.

This report maps informal settlements in Metro Manila, looks at construction at the base of the pyramid, including characteristics of housing categories and types of house construction. It reviews the case of Quezon City, where a large number of informal settlers are being moved to formal housing by the government and the role of community mortgage programs and public private partnerships in this transition.

This case study explores Patrimonio Hoy, an initiative of CEMEX, a multinational concrete manufacturer, which provides construction materials to low-income consumers in BoP regions. It reviews the impacts of improved housing conditions on children aged eight and under, across three dimensions of well-being: economic, capability, and relationship.

This report is based on the discussions that took place at the "Business Opportunities in Housing for the Base of the Pyramid" event held in Sa?o Paulo, Brazil in September 2013. It provides a summary of the housing crisis in Brazil, including the challenges related to: infrastructure; financing; land tenure; urban housing services; reaching the poorest in society; and the role of business in the housing sector.

This issue provides a collection of discussions including on housing challenges of the urban poor, problems of street vendors in India, an analysis of Pakistan's education system and the persistent drug problem amongst slum and street children in South Asia.

This report provides an overview of the affordable housing market in Kenya; it is aimed at practitioners and investors who are looking to enter the affordable housing sector in the country or elsewhere. It describes the challenges that practitioners encounter and provides strategies to address them.

The report is about a multidonor strategic thematic fund established by Opportunities for the Majority which is used for the funding of diverse crucial BoP business models and their scaling-up. In this context four case studies are presented showing examples of the funds work: "VisionSpring", a social enterprise is dedicated to providing affordable eyeglasses to low-income people, the multistage programme "Corporate Leaders Program which includes the development of a creative platform, the housing programme "Patrimonio Hoy" of the Mexico-based cement manufacturer CEMEX and "The 1st BASE Forum for the Development of the Base of the Pyramid in Latin America and the Caribbean".

This case study focuses on the inclusive business model of La Hipotecaria Holding Inc., a full-service housing finance company. The company's inclusive business model is built on a niche product: mortgages for owner-occupied homes targeting formally employed borrowers whose average family incomes range from $400 to $800 per month. The case describes the inclusive business model, the company's commercial drivers, results achieved as well as IFC's role and value add.

This study analyses survey answers from the G20 Challenge applicants on the regulatory obstacles they face in their businesses. It further summarizes how public policy can support business models that include people at the base of the pyramid as producers or suppliers (focusing on agriculture) and as customers (focusing on affordable housing, health, education and basic financial services).

This case study focuses on the inclusive business model of Vinte, a niche player in the low-and middle-income housing market, with a customer offering that is differentiated by the use of innovative technology and modern infrastructure services, such as the added option of rooftop solar cells for energy generation which significantly reduces electricity bills. The case describes the inclusive business model, the company's commercial drivers, results achieved as well as IFC's role and value add.