PM Abiy Says Relentless Efforts Underway to Fulfil Five-Year Promise of Building Decent, Affordable Homes for Ethiopians

Addis Ababa, November 13, 2026 (FMC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling the five-year promise to build houses for the Ethiopian people, stating that relentless efforts are underway, day and night, to turn the pledge into reality.

In a social media post shared today, the Prime Minister acknowledged the challenges and deep concerns Ethiopians face over housing, emphasizing that providing decent and affordable homes is not merely a development target but a responsibility to citizens.

He noted that the government’s focus remains on delivering tangible results, easing the housing burden on the people and creating better living conditions for families across the country.

The Prime Minister stressed that efforts to fulfil the commitment are continuing tirelessly, reflecting the importance his administration attaches to addressing the housing needs of Ethiopian citizens.

The housing commitment forms part of the wider development agenda Prime Minister Abiy unveiled on September 9, 2025, during the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Guba, Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State.

Among the major projects announced on that occasion was a plan to construct 1.5 million houses over five to six years, alongside other large-scale national development initiatives.

The Prime Minister subsequently reiterated the housing initiative during parliamentary engagements, outlining the government’s plans to expand construction through public investment, private-sector participation and public-private partnerships.

In July 2026, he told the House of Peoples’ Representatives that the government was prepared to build at least 1.5 million houses over the next five years, with efforts also focused on expanding the domestic production of construction materials and improving access to housing finance.

A further step in mobilizing financing for the housing programme came on September 3, 2026, when the National Bank of Ethiopia and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed a framework for cooperation to establish a dedicated mortgage refinance company.

The institution is planned to have a capitalization of 100 billion birr, with the IFC expected to contribute at least 200 million U.S. dollars. The initiative is intended to expand access to mortgage financing and support the government’s target of delivering 1.5 million affordable and dignified homes for Ethiopian families.