What is the name of your organization?
Daba.Cities
What is the name of your solution?
Daba.Dar
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Democratizing real estate investment with AI-powered, Durable Affordable Residences (DAR) solutions for compact and sustainable cities.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Kigali, Rwanda
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Rwanda
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
In the rapidly urbanizing African context, urban population growth is outpacing planning, leading to environmental degradation, rising greenhouse gas emissions, and unsustainable urban sprawl. Cities like Kigali have seen their population and built-up areas double in under two decades, yet central areas remain underutilized. Due to high land costs, new urban dwellers are pushed to peri-urban zones, resulting in long commutes, increased car usage, and pressure on urban infrastructure. This pattern is widespread across the Global South. According to the UN-Habitat (2023) report, Africa will need to accommodate nearly 1 billion additional urban residents by 2050. Without innovative solutions, informal settlements will dominate urban landscapes, deepening inequality and undermining climate goals. The World Bank also notes that over 60% of urban Africans live in slums, lacking access to affordable, well-located housing.
What is your solution?
Daba.Dar is a digital platform that identifies underutilized properties and unoccupied sites in city centers using satellite imagery, AI analysis, and field data. We focus on core urban zones with redevelopment potential, inviting property owners to list their properties through targeted outreach. When applicable, we facilitate land consolidation to unlock larger, more viable development opportunities. Using AI-powered design tools, Daba.Dar generates architectural, structural, and financial models for each listed property. These models help visualize the redevelopment potential and estimate investment returns, making it easy for real estate investors to assess and select opportunities. Once a project is fully funded, the platform connects investors to local builders and property managers to begin redevelopment. Property owners can co-invest and retain ownership, avoiding displacement while benefiting from increased property value. This inclusive approach allows people of different income levels to live and work in central urban areas, helping to reduce sprawl, car dependency, and environmental degradation. Through smart technology and community-driven investment, Daba.Dar transforms vacant urban land into vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive neighborhoods.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Daba.Dar directly serves three key underserved groups. First, it empowers inner-city property owners who lack the financial means to upgrade their buildings as urban master plans evolve. Without support, many are forced to sell and relocate to peri-urban areas, accelerating urban sprawl. Daba.Dar offers them co-investment opportunities, allowing them to stay, retain ownership, and benefit from the increased value of their upgraded properties. Second, it supports new urban migrants, often from rural areas, who move to cities seeking opportunity but can only afford housing on the urban fringe, often in areas lacking basic infrastructure. Daba.Dar makes affordable housing available near jobs and services, improving quality of life and reducing long commutes. Finally, it addresses the needs of young people looking to start families but priced out of central neighbourhoods. By increasing affordable housing supply in well-located areas, Daba.Dar gives them the chance to live in inclusive, connected communities. By unlocking underused urban land and facilitating shared investment, Daba.Dar keeps people in the city, reduces inequality, and helps build compact, sustainable cities for all.
