Reall’s Commitment to Women in Housing and Construction

Reall’s Commitment to Women in Housing and Construction on International Women’s Day and Women and Construction Week

International Women’s Day: Driving Gender Equality in Affordable Housing 

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025, Reall reaffirms its commitment to advancing gender equality in the housing sector. At Reall, we understand that it is essential to adopt an intersectional approach to gender to truly address the diverse experiences and systemic gendered challenges in accessing green affordable housing. To date, our gender-focused work has primarily supported women-headed households and low-income women. However, we recognise that gender disparities intersect with other complex factors, including age, socioeconomic status, disability, and residency in informal settlements. Without acknowledging these overlapping barriers, solutions risk being exclusionary and ineffective. 

In 2024, we updated our Theory of Change, cementing Gender as a core output for our work. The two key principles include: Increasing access to quality, affordable homes for women and marginalised groups, and promoting diverse participation in housing design and construction to meet the needs of all users. 

Our recently launched Research Priorities also emphasise gender as a key focus area, and seeks to answer three core questions: 

1. How does green, resilient, affordable housing improve the lives of women and girls? 

1. What factors support women in securing housing finance, and how does overcoming these barriers promote economic stability? 

1. How can gender-sensitive housing be commercially viable while ensuring inclusive design? 

By addressing these questions, we aim to generate greater evidence on the tangible impact of affordable housing on women’s lives. Establishing clear correlations and causations can drive investment into gender-sensitive housing solutions and influence policy changes. Understanding the financial barriers women face, such as discrimination, lack of collateral, and financial literacy gaps, allows for the development of targeted strategies that improve access to homeownership. Furthermore, identifying key design features that enhance inclusivity will help demonstrate the business case for gender-sensitive housing, encouraging wider adoption by developers and policymakers.

Women in Construction Week: Building a More Inclusive Industry 

Celebrated from March 2–8, 2025, Women in Construction Week highlights the crucial role women play in the construction industry. A diverse workforce is essential to unlocking untapped talent, enhancing decision-making, and promoting inclusive urban development. Women in construction often prioritise different elements in housing design, such as child-friendly spaces, community areas, and safety considerations, leading to better outcomes for all residents. 

Zima Homes: Empowering Women in Construction Trades 

Zima Homes is a partner in Nairobi, Kenya is delivering green, gender-inclusive, affordable housing, offering 34 studios, 69 one-bedroom units, and 40 two-bedroom units. One of the ways they are championing gender equality is through working with BuildHer, who have been contracted to provide labourers for the project. 

BuildHer is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to providing low-income women with the training and skills needed to access sustainable careers in the construction sector. Their mission is to create economic mobility through specialized construction training, ensuring tradeswomen receive equitable pay and professional growth opportunities. To date, 680 women have been trained through the organisation. BuildHer are therefore not only contributing to a green, gender-inclusive, affordable housing project, but they are also generating employment opportunities for local women. 

Fig 1: Zima Homes Site and Fig 2: Zima Homes Co-founder and our Portfolio Manager, Etta Madete and our Programme Lead – Green Affordable Housing (Kenya), Joy Wachira with Zima Homes team 

Smart Havens: Climate-Smart Homes Built by Women, for Women 

Smart Havens Africa is a social enterprise focused on building climate-smart, affordable homes while empowering low-income women through employment and homeownership opportunities. Their model supports women by providing construction training, internships, and job placements; offering financial literacy education covering income management, budgeting, savings, and credit; and supporting mothers with on-site daycare centers, parks, and playgrounds. 

Reall partnered with Smart Havens to fund the Bukalango Project in Wakiso, Kampala, which delivered 38 homes as part of a 61-unit development. This initiative not only provided sustainable housing but also created approximately 185 jobs during construction.  

Fig 3: Smart Heavens CEO Anne Rweyora Fig 4: Resident at Smart Heavens

Looking Ahead: A Future Built by and for Women 

At Reall, we believe that gender inclusion in housing and construction is not just about equality, it’s about building a better, more resilient world. By supporting initiatives like Zima Homes and Smart Havens, we are demonstrating the immense value that women bring to the construction sector and ensuring that affordable, sustainable housing remains accessible to all. 

This International Women’s Day and Women in Construction Week, we celebrate the progress made while recognising the work still ahead. Together, we can drive systemic change and create a future where women have equal opportunities to build, own, and thrive in safe, sustainable homes. 

Written by Reall’s Monitoring, Research and Evidence Co-ordinator, Hannah Robinson.