Supporting countries with housing systems in transition

Background of the establishment of the Working Group

The need to deliver social and adequate housing is increasingly visible in many European cities and countries, especially in transition economies. This is not only a question of finance and investment. In many places there is a lack of institutions and organizations that can efficiently direct productive means towards responsible housing investments. This requires the help of professionals and experts from a variety of fields. Housing Europe, the international reference point for housing policy expertise is the best placed player to answer the above needs.

Aim of the Ad-hoc Working Group

This Working Group, set up in November 2017 by Housing Europe helps to respond to requests for information from countries with housing systems in transition. It serves as a platform to bring together current or former experts from within Housing Europe Members and experts recommended by Members from e.g. academia or other entities specialising in housing. The Group is mainly focusing on the exchange of hands-on practices that could serve local needs.

Methodology

Housing Europe, the international reference point for housing policy possess an extensive knowledge about the organization and delivery of social, cooperative and public housing solutions. Therefore, it is creating the platform under a form of a Working Group in order to answer the above explained needs. The Working Group is using the following methodology:

• The mobilization of Members, partners and other stakeholders is primarily happening at thematic meetings linked with study visits (2 times per year)
• The Working Group participants have also access to participate in Training courses such as the Summer school co-organised by EBZ and Housing Europe where they can learn from their peers.
• Thirdly, the Group also includes independent experts who are available to assist the countries in need.
• Fourthly, other peer-to-peer learning possibilities are also possible which is subject to request.
• Finally, the Group also organises webinars on topics of high interest such as financing the fight against energy poverty.

Date and Place of meetings

The meetings take place twice a year, preferably in a transition country that initiate to host the Group. Chair and Vice-chair are consulted on work programme and agenda.

Structure

The Chair of the Working Group is Andres Jaadla (Chairman of the Board of EKUL, Estonian Member of Housing Europe, and Housing Europe Board Member), the Vice-Chair is Gabriel Amitsis (Associate Professor, Technical Institute of Athens, Partner of Housing Europe). The coordination is carried out by the Housing Europe Secretariat (Edit Lakatos and Alice Pittini).

Participants, partners

Housing Europe gathers a group of partners and Members that support the establishment in the start-up phase and/or the operational phase. In addition, beyond practitioners from our Membership, participants also include Experts from national Ministries in the field thanks to the collaboration with UNECE; International Financial Institutions (CEB, EIB); international Partners (such as Habitat for Humanity and IWO), Academia; and Independent experts.

• Practitioners from our Membership and outside
  • EKYL (Estonia), SHPRK (Kosovo), CLDC (Cyprus), ASBA (Armenia), GdW (Germany), USH (France), LOSZ (Hungary), SABO (Sweden), AVS (Spain), Federcasa (Italy), TURKENT (Turekey), Housing Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, Republic Housing Agency (Serbia)
• Ministry Experts
  • Albania, Czech Republic, Azerbajdjan, Georgia, Latvia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Lithuania, Poland
• International Financial Institutions
  • CEB, EIB, EBRD
• International organisations
  • UNECE, Union for Mediterranean, Habitat for Humanity, Housing Initiative for Eastern Europe (IWO)
• Academia and think-thank
  • MRI Hungary, Technical University of Athens

Pool of independent experts

More about them in the document below

* Important note that the Group is an evolving platform, which is open to new interested participants.