Low-Carbon Obalende Development Model

Huge deficits in sustainable housing options in Lagos has contributed to social inequality, perpetuating a housing divide between low-income residents living in substandard housing conditions and wealthier residents living in more 'luxurious' and comfortable homes. Additionally, most developers in Lagos are ignorant about integrating sustainable and low-carbon development practices into their projects - it is still cement, a high emission material, we see being used across the city..

In many ways, Lagos, Nigeria, is a city of both challenges and opportunities when it comes to low-carbon real estate development. On the one hand, the city's rapid growth has led to a severe housing crisis, with over 70% of its residents living in informal settlements, and a housing deficit of over 2 million units according to the Lagos State Government. This has led to overcrowded living conditions, poor-quality housing, and a range of social and economic problems that disproportionately affect low-income residents. On the other hand, Lagos is a city known for its entrepreneurial spirit and sense of endless possibility, creating opportunities for sustainable real estate development to not only address the housing crisis but also promote economic growth and social equity.

Our solution is to become low-carbon real-estate developers in Lagos. We want to leverage the Low Carbon Obalende Development Model to make this happen. I first experienced the Obalende Development Model when I moved back to Lagos to contribute to helping improve my country. I struggled to find housing, and when I finally did, I came to learn about how my landlord was able to develop this property, at what was comparably an affordable price for the market, and at a quality that stood out in the midst of the blight in Obalende. The model connects owners of blighted property to developers on a land-lease basis, where the developer has access to the land for 20 years to develop and make money from the property for an affordable initial fee (which is unique in Lagos with its high property costs), while the mostly indigenous owners get yearly income or part ownership of the property. For me who had lived & worked in Boston and experienced the tense conversations around issues of development and gentrification, this model seemed a step in the right direction of catalyzing property development, creating housing at costs that are accessible to locals, while ensuring ownership remains in the hand of indigenous/local peoples.

Currently The Obalende Development model is mostly being leveraged by informal developers building without care for the impact of construction on the environment. We want to change this through our solution. We want to create our first pilot which we dub the Low-Carbon Obalende Development Model. Through this we also want to begin to invest in low-carbon service providers including architects and construction companies, and also train a new generation of low-carbon developers in Lagos.

Finally, we are committed to also piloting business models that ensure the affordable housing aspect of the development is 'actually' affordable. One model we are considering is balancing within the development both affordable housing and market-rate short-let housing (for digital nomads & tourists), for which the short-let housing revenue is projected to help subsidize the affordable housing element. This for us is a unique proposition that we believe will work in Lagos which has a thriving and also growing short-let market.

The target population for The Low-Carbon Obalende Development Model would primarily be informal workers (including creative workers, freelancers & small scale entrepreneurs) who are resident in Lagos. These individuals are the most affected by the lack of access to adequate and sustainable housing options. By addressing their housing needs, the real estate development project can significantly improve their lives in several ways such as:

Affordable Housing: The project would aim to provide affordable housing options for the target population. This means developing housing units that are priced within their financial means, enabling them to secure decent and safe living conditions without burdening their finances. Affordable housing would alleviate the financial stress and vulnerability they currently face due to high housing costs.

Improved Living Conditions: The real estate development would focus on creating housing units that meet basic living standards, with an emphasis on integration of green spaces. These units would provide better living conditions, including proper ventilation, sanitation facilities, access to clean water, and reliable electricity supply. By addressing overcrowding, poor-quality housing, and lack of amenities, the project would contribute to improving the overall health and well-being of the residents.

Sustainable Features: The new housing units would incorporate sustainable design and construction practices. This would involve using low carbon materials like rammed early, implementing renewable energy solutions such as solar panels, and integrating earth-healthy water-saving features. By reducing dependence on high carbon construction materials, non-renewable energy sources and lowering utility bills, the project would enhance the residents' quality of life while promoting environmental sustainability.

Access to Basic Amenities: The real estate development initiative would prioritize the provision of essential amenities to the target population. This includes ensuring access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and reliable electricity. By addressing these basic needs, the project would enhance the residents' living standards and contribute to their overall well-being.

Social and Economic Integration: The real estate development would aim to create inclusive communities that foster social cohesion and economic integration. This could involve integrating mixed-income housing units, promoting community spaces, and supporting local businesses and services. By creating diverse and vibrant neighborhoods, the project would contribute to reducing social inequality and enhancing social connections within the community.

Skill Development and Job Creation: The real estate development initiative could also provide employment and skill development opportunities for the local population. By involving the community in the construction and maintenance of the housing units, the project would create jobs and contribute to economic empowerment. Additionally, training programs could be implemented to educate local residents in sustainable construction practices, enabling them to participate in the long-term sustainability of the community.

As a team, we are the right people to design and deliver this solution to the target population for the following reasons:

Experience and Expertise: We have experienced the housing struggle firsthand, which gives me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the target population. This personal experience greatly informed the design and implementation of the real estate development project, ensuring that it addressed the specific needs and concerns of the community. Additionally, with my team’s relevant experience and expertise in real estate development, architecture, urban planning, community engagement, or sustainable design, we will leverage these skills to create a well-rounded and effective solution.

Local Knowledge and Contextual Understanding: Being familiar with the local context of Lagos, Nigeria, gives us a unique advantage in understanding the specific dynamics, cultural factors, and regulatory requirements that come into play in the region. This knowledge will help us navigate challenges and ensure that our solution aligns with the local culture and regulatory framework, making it more effective and sustainable in the long run.

Community Engagement and Empowerment: My personal experience and connection to the target population facilitates effective community engagement. By involving the community throughout the design and implementation process, I will ensure that their voices and needs are heard and incorporated into the project. This participatory approach can foster a sense of ownership, empowerment, and trust within the community, leading to better outcomes and a more sustainable solution.

Commitment to Sustainability: My understanding of the housing crisis and its impact on the environment positions me well to prioritize sustainability in my solution. By incorporating sustainable design principles, energy-efficient features, and renewable energy sources into the housing units, I can create projects that not only meet the immediate housing needs but also contribute to long-term environmental sustainability. This commitment to sustainability sets my team apart and makes us suitable for designing and delivering a solution that considers the well-being of both the residents and the environment.

Collaboration and Partnerships: As a team, I will leverage my networks to establish collaborations with relevant stakeholders such as government agencies, NGOs, community organizations, and private entities. By forging strategic partnerships, we will be able to access additional resources, expertise, and funding opportunities that can enhance the implementation and impact of the solution. Collaboration with local organizations and government agencies can also ensure alignment with broader development goals and initiatives in Lagos.

Passion and Commitment: My personal experience and understanding of the housing crisis indicate a strong passion and commitment to making a positive impact in the community. This drive and dedication propels my team to overcome challenges, persevere in the face of obstacles, and ensure the successful delivery of the real estate development project. Passion and commitment are crucial elements in driving meaningful change and inspiring others to join in the effort.

Our solution is a prototype:

- We are registered business in Nigeria;

- We have already created the critical relationships needed to access the kind of properties needed to implement the Obalende Development Model;

- We have already secured a test property in our ideal neighborhood in Central Lagos;

- We have already pinpointed and started outreach with ideal low-carbon construction companies in the West African region;

- We are already pitching to investors to get the resources needed for the actual development.

We are not yet serving any people. We do hope to start our low-carbon trainings before the end of this year.

We are applying to Solve to assist with some of the following:

• First, in our efforts to build a pilot model, we’ve discovered it’s hard to find contractor companies that understand low-carbon housing and how to build them sustainably. In this regard, we would need more technical & training partners to help us supervise, upskill, or otherwise advise local service-providers.

• Secondly, we also need financial support to help us finance creating a working pilot of the Low-Carbon Obalende Development Model. We are looking for investors who have a vision to support conscious developers. 

• Finally, we need mentorships and more immersive experiences with experienced low-carbon developers and advisors who can help us navigate the complex challenges of building and scaling a model of development successfully.  We need guidance across strategy, market positioning, team building, and fundraising. In summary, as a company focused on solving the affordable low-carbon housing crisis in Lagos, Nigeria, we need technical, financial, and mentorship support to achieve our goals.

Our solution is innovative because it adapts an already functioning model in a low-carbon & environmentally conscious format which is currently not what is fashionable in the local real estate landscape here in Lagos. There is an increasing & visible amount of renewable energy options locally, however, in the space of construction & finishing there is a lot of innovation lacking. By implementing our pilot, we will become one of the first, if not the first, low carbon affordable housing developers here in Lagos. Pioneering this kind of model will allow us be able to become more legitimate evangelists for the viability of low-carbon development in Lagos. Also our goal to upskill low-carbon service provider during our pilot process, will make it also easier for other developers who care about environment to follow our lead.

Within The Next Year:

- Launch our capacity building work-shops & trainings to upskill & vet service providers in low-carbon design, construction & finishing technologies for our pilot project. Through these workshops we hope to train at least 50 service providers in the low-carbon construction & finishing space

- Create further partnerships with other community organizations focused on organizing & advocating for quality housing for informal workers and broadly residents of Lagos

For Next Five Years

- Pilot our first low-carbon multi-use property in Lagos with targeted marketing to renters who are most in need

- Leverage the success of our pilot to create critical public & private relationships to enable us scale our Low-Carbon Obalende Development Model

- Create an EdTech platform that archives training for ease of access to broader range of service providers.

- How many service providers we are able to upskill in low-carbon design, construction (including environmentally conscious water delivery infrastructure) & finishing technologies?

- How many partnership with local organizations we are able to build?

- How many affordable & low carbon housing units we are able to develop? We define low carbon housing as housing constructed with low-emission materials, finished and powered (including water delivery) with innovative & green solution leveraging indigenous & scientific technologies.

- The comparative level of emissions from our properties compared to more traditional developments?

Our Vision: To develop beautiful, affordable and sustainable housing options for everyday Lagosians.

Assumptions:

- By developing low carbon buildings, our goal is to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in Lagos. 
- By catalyzing capacity development workshops, we will create a strong force of skilled providers of low-carbon design, construction & finishing providers.
- By providing sustainable and affordable housing options, we will reduce social inequality and contribute to community resilience.
- Our model of partnering with indigenous families ensures the continuity of indigenous ownership.
- By partnering with local organizations and communities, we increase community engagement and ensure that sustainable development practices are integrated into the local context.

Inputs:

- Funding and resources to develop low carbon buildings and sustainable housing options.
- Access to sustainable design, construction & finishing materials, technologies, and best practices.
- Partnerships with local organizations and communities to ensure that development practices are inclusive and sustainable.
- Trained staff and expertise in sustainable development practices.

Activities:

1. Conduct a needs assessment to identify areas of greatest need for low-carbon affordable housing in Lagos.
2. Develop sustainable building designs and incorporate low emission construction materials, energy-efficient appliances, renewable energy sources, and water-saving features.
3. Partner with local organizations and communities to ensure that development practices are inclusive and sustainable.
4. Hire and train local workers to build and maintain low-carbon properties.
5. Engage with policymakers to advocate for sustainable development policies and regulations.

Outputs:

- Low carbon buildings and sustainable housing options developed in Lagos.
- Trained local workers in sustainable design, construction & finishing practices.
- Increased community engagement and awareness of sustainable development practices.
- Improved access to sustainable and affordable housing options for low-income residents.

Outcomes:

- Reduced carbon emissions and improved environmental sustainability in Lagos.
- Increased social equity and reduced social inequality.
- Improved community resilience and access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and energy.
- Increased job opportunities and economic growth in the sustainable development sector.
- Improved policy and regulatory framework for sustainable development in Lagos.

Overall Impact:

Our efforts will contribute to the sustainable and equitable development of Lagos, with reduced carbon emissions, improved social equity & increased access to affordable and energy-efficient housing options for everyday Lagosians.

- Indigenous system of real development of blighted properties which we call The Obalende Development model. 

- Sustainable Building Technologies (indigenous & science derived) including rammed earth building technologies.

- Renewable Energy Technologies (indigenous & science derived) including passive cooling and solar powered technologies.

- Sustainable Water Delivery Technologies (science derived) including rain water collection 

Our organization CEO is a woman, who is committed to diverse and inclusive teams from ethnicity, gender expression and sexual preferences. We particularly partner with individuals that are directly from the communities we engage to ensure their input is heavily present in our projects.

We develop low-carbon housing that provide affordable housing to everyday Lagosians, particularly informal workers. Our business model is still being figured out. However, we are currently considering developing the affordable housing aspect, with a more lucrative short-let housing & commercial rental, to allow subsidize costs for our affordable housing clients, to make our units 'affordable'. We aim to re-invest profits into new development projects to scale our impact.

We hope to fund our work initially through grants & donations. However, once we complete our first pilot we will bring in money through rents, investment capital and public & private development contracts.

We are still in the process of raising funding. This is an area we need support in.