Reall began working in Zimbabwe in 2000 and has pursued a more commercial approach since 2012.

Zimbabwe’s context is a challenge for providers of affordable housing. The country is gradually recovering from drastic economic upheaval. The 2000-2008 economic crash saw GDP almost halved. 72% of the population are living below the poverty line, whilst the estimated housing shortage sits at 1.5m homes. With an average household size of 5, this implies that almost half of the 16 million Zimbabweans are without decent housing.

Reall initially worked with the Zimbabwe National Association of Housing Cooperatives and then, since 2015, with ShelterSol, an affordable housing developer. Through these partnerships, almost 1,000 homes have been completed, the vast majority for cooperative members.
With Reall’s support, ShelterSol have also piloted a Decentralised Wastewater System (DEWATS), a first for Zimbabwe, that has the potential to unlock new land for housing.