Bassinko is Reall’s first housing project in Burkina Faso. The project was developed as a pilot to test the government’s national housing programme as a potentially replicable model for affordable housing, using a public-private partnership approach. Based in a rapidly expanding area of Ouagadougou, the project had to be designed around the cultural preferences of a largely Islamic population, which required each property to include a 1.5m high mason boundary wall. The houses consist of two rooms and a washroom and will be plastered and painted to provide better living conditions in a dry, windy and dusty environment. They will also be fully serviced with household water, electricity and sanitation.

Reall has negotiated a partnership arrangement with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development which has provided the land for development. Increasing lending capacity is strongly supported by government and banks will offer long term loans that can be repaid over a period of up to 10 years, allowing for greater affordability.

Demand for these loans are high; a waiting list opened prior to the project commencing amassed over 6,000 eligible clients before the projects commenced. In total, 76% of the population in Burkina Faso fall within the target group for this project in terms of their income status.