Shelter Afrique Development Bank has announced the appointment of Mr Lionel Zinsou as Chairman of its Board of Directors and Mr Said Athman Mtwana as Vice Chairman. The announcement followed the 149th meeting of the Board held on 11 December 2025 in Nairobi, and signals a renewed emphasis on purpose-driven governance and innovation in financing Africa’s urban transformation.
Mr Zinsou, an accomplished economist and investment banker with a long record of service in both public and private sectors, is a former Prime Minister of the Republic of Benin. His leadership has been characterised by a focus on macroeconomic reform, financial inclusion and structural investment across the continent. As Chairman, he assumes a strategic role at a time when Shelter Afrique Development Bank is intensifying its efforts to transition into a fully operational multilateral development institution with a sharpened focus on delivering impactful, affordable housing and sustainable urban growth across Africa.
In accepting his appointment, Mr Zinsou highlighted the urgency and opportunity at hand, stating that he is honoured to take on the chairmanship at such a transformative time. He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the Bank’s investment strategy supports dignified housing and inclusive urban infrastructure that resonate with the economic aspirations of African communities. His words reflect an intent to chart a path for the Bank that is both accountable to its public mandate and responsive to the complex dynamics of the African urban experience.
Joining him in the Bank’s leadership is Mr Said Athman Mtwana, representing Group 1 Member States. Mr Mtwana brings considerable expertise in urban development policy and project planning. His professional background includes senior roles in public service focused on land policy and national housing strategies. Educated at the University of Nairobi with degrees in Urban and Regional Planning and Building Economics, Mr Mtwana offers a blend of technical understanding and policy-level insight into the continent’s housing and urban development challenges.
Mr Mtwana described the role as a privilege and emphasised the importance of aligning Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s efforts with the lived realities and developmental aspirations of millions of African households. He expressed a commitment to strengthening institutional governance and ensuring that the Bank remains a catalyst for innovation in urban development finance.
The leadership transition was also acknowledged by the Bank’s Managing Director, Mr Thierno-Habib Hann, who welcomed the new appointments while extending gratitude to the outgoing Chairperson, Dr Chii Akporji, and the former Vice Chairman, Mr Ahmed Belayat. Mr Hann noted that their stewardship had laid a durable institutional foundation that will support the next phase of Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s growth and operational maturity. He emphasised that the incoming leadership’s combined expertise in public finance, policy formulation and infrastructure development would help reinforce the Bank’s capacity to drive climate-resilient and economically inclusive urban solutions across its Member States.
Shelter Afrique Development Bank, widely known as ShafDB, operates as the only pan-African multilateral development bank exclusively dedicated to financing housing and urban development. Its membership includes 44 African countries, the African Development Bank and the African Reinsurance Corporation. The institution’s strategic role in bridging the housing deficit, fostering affordable home ownership and supporting local real estate markets has become increasingly central to continental development agendas, particularly as Africa undergoes rapid urbanisation and confronts the dual imperatives of growth and equity.
This leadership transition comes amid a period of restructuring and institutional strengthening as ShafDB deepens its transformation into a more agile and mission-focused financial institution. The Bank’s ongoing efforts to build resilient urban economies, support public private partnerships and expand innovative financial instruments underscore its evolving relevance within Africa’s broader development architecture.
By appointing leaders with proven records in continental and global affairs, Shelter Afrique Development Bank is positioning itself to deliver on its mandate with greater cohesion and strategic foresight. The appointments reflect not only a change in leadership but a broader shift towards African-owned and African-centred development strategies that resist homogenised external narratives. Rather than viewing housing merely as an infrastructure challenge, the Bank continues to affirm its role in enabling communities, improving quality of life and supporting sustainable, locally grounded growth models.
