Delivery of a wide range of affordable housing solutions is critical in addressing the housing and land crisis. DAG has a long standing track record in advocacy and delivering affordable housing in South Africa.  In working with community based and civic organisations, DAG has developed best practice for local solutions to national problem. This involves working with local citizens, local government, emerging contractors and developers to provide a range of affordable housing solutions. DAG’s current strategy is twofold- to continue advocating with government for incremental and long term response to informality; and secondly to support, develop and deliver local solutions through DAG’ Contractor and Developer Academy (CDA). The CDA operates as an advice office based out of Khayelitsha providing critical support to citizens, contractors and community networks in delivering affordable housing, basic services and tenure options.

Contractor and Developer Academy

In 2017, DAG incubated the ‘Contractor and Developer Academy’ (CDA) in order to support the delivery of affordable rental housing and tenure security. The CDA provides advisory services, targeted training, and direct support to emerging contractors and entrepreneurial micro-developers in order to provide affordable, better managed housing. In addition to this, the CDA aims to raise awareness around the crucial role played by micro-developers and contractors in the delivery of affordable housing, and thus is involved in numerous lobbying and advocacy activities.

Since 2017, the CDA has:
• Facilitated the building of 16 affordable housing projects, yielding 99 units that have accommodated over 250 people in historically disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
• This has contributed R12,5 million to the local economy.
• Directly trained 39 emerging contractors and developers and reached over 355 contractors and developers through information sessions and other initiatives.
• Helped 19 contractors secure work and assisted 8 contractors to upgrade their CIBD rating from level 1 to level 2.

In addition to supporting emerging contractors and developers, DAG also works closely with backyard residents across Cape Town through our Backyarders project. This project is aimed at strengthening the backyard rental market and contributing towards well-managed, quality rental stock that provides affordable, dignified, and safe housing solutions. DAG provides support to backyard residents through numerous capacity building initiatives centred around their rights and responsibilities, access to basic services, tenure security and other such issues. Read more about DAG’s Contractor and Developer Academy

Click on the links below to read news articles…

• • The struggles of emerging construction companies pre and during Covid-19 pandemic -Voices 360
  • Contractors ready for industry – News24

WATCH: CDA CONTRACTOR TRAINING TESTIMONIALS

Christelene Miller,
Meet Christelene, one of DAG’s Contractor and Developer Academy (CDA) participants who recently completed DAG’s contractor development training programme reflects on what she has learned from the training and how it has impacted her business and personal life

Andy’s CDA Training Testimonial
Andy, one of the 14 Belhar contractors trained by DAG shares highlights and learnings from DAG’s Contractor and Developer  Academy Training Programme.

Michelle Arendse Reflects on her CDA Training Journey
Meet Michelle, one of the female contractors who participated in the DAG Contractor Support training reflecting on her experience during the six weeks of training.