Chairman of the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations visited UN-Habitat Headquarters in Kenya

18.02.2016

Andres Jaadla, Chairman of the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations (EKYL) and Board member of Housing Europe, visited UN-Habitat Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya on February 16, 2016.

At the meeting with Christopher Lalande, Housing Unit Leader at UN-Habitat, and Fernarda Lonardoni, Housing Policy Adviser at UN-Habitat, developments of housing and housing policy in Europe and globally were discussed. Andres Jaadla gave an overview of the activities of Housing Europe and EKYL, and introduced cooperation with the UNECE Housing and Land Management Unit. The Chairman of EKYL explained the housing situation in Estonia, the role of apartment associations and EKYL in the housing reforms and the international cooperation network of EKYL today.

Participants at the meeting agreed that Estonia has experiences with housing reforms that are useful for other countries around the world with similar housing situation. EKYL has, with its 20 years of consistent activity and growing network, quite unique role in the development of cooperative housing. “ It’s not a heavy task to build or refurbish a beautiful house, but without capable cooperative or educated community, these buildings are just like boxes without soul,” found Christopher Lalande and Fernarda Lonardoni. „Educating consulting and uniting community members are very important activities but unfortunately often forgotten during the implementation of building and renovation programmes in the housing stock,” said UN-Habitat experts.

The question of sustainable housing in South Sudan was also discussed at the meeting. Experts Abdallah Kassim and Thomas Chiramba introduced the project „Houses of Peace“. „Building affordable and sustainable dwellings and supporting developing communities are important activities for assuring the sense of security after war in South Sudan,” told Andres Jaadla.

Participants agreed on the further exchange of information and cooperation.

Information:

Andres Jaadla
Andres.Jaadla@ekyl.ee