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A group of children walk along the road on their way to work in the fields of rural Cote d'Ivoire.
A Country Profile
Photos by Steffan Hacker
Cote d'Ivoire, a small West African nation of some 17 million people, faces many of the problems shared by other countries in the region: disorganized urbanization, agriculture that suffers at the whim of the weather, and chronic poverty. Habitat for Humanity has been building houses there since 1999, chipping away at the housing shortage one block at a time. The following facts and photographs illustrate the challenges and victories of living and working in Cote d'Ivoire.
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In the city of Abidjan alone, the housing deficit is estimated to be 12,000 houses per year. Urbanization is adding to the problem, with almost half of the growing population now living in towns or cities.
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In rural areas, many people live in temporary structures, which require extensive upkeep and repair and are vulnerable to fire. Walls are typically made of mud in a wooden frame and often crack, causing leaks and eventually falling apart. Thatch-roof houses harbor numerous disease-carrying insects such as malarial mosquitoes and the tsetse fly, which in turn can spread eye disease.
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Established in 1999, Habitat for Humanity Cote d'Ivoire builds houses using appropriate technology and local building materials. The houses are made of brick and mortar, with corrugated iron roofing sheets. Houses are built consisting of either two or three bedrooms and a hall. The new house sponsorship cost is US$3,420. Smaller houses are currently planned, in order to reach families in the lowest income groups.
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HFHCI is building homes with disabled people in nine communities in the eastern and western regions and is providing housing for cocoa farmers. Volunteer work days for local organizations and churches are a regular feature of the program. This allows participation toward community redevelopment.
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Cote d'Ivoire is located on the North Atlantic coast in western Africa, between Ghana and Liberia. The main crops are cocoa, coffee, beans and palm oil. Oil and diamonds are key resources.
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