Housing Value Chain Assessment and Strategic Recommendations for Affordable Housing Delivery

AHI was engaged by CAF, MIVAH, and Finanvivienda to undertake a comprehensive Housing Value Chain (HVC) assessment of Costa Rica’s affordable housing sector. The assignment was designed to provide a systemic understanding of the institutional, regulatory, financial, and operational factors affecting the production, financing, delivery, and maintenance of affordable housing across the country. The study examined the performance of key actors within the housing ecosystem, including public institutions, financial entities, developers, landowners, infrastructure providers, and beneficiary households.

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Particular attention was given to constraints related to land availability and management, housing finance, subsidy systems, urban planning and permitting processes, infrastructure provision, informal settlements, tenure regularization, and housing market dynamics.

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The assessment aimed to identify structural bottlenecks affecting housing supply and demand and to generate evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the efficiency, inclusiveness, and sustainability of the housing delivery system. The findings were intended to support CAF, MIVAH, Finanvivienda, and sector stakeholders in advancing policy dialogue, improving institutional coordination, and informing future investments and reforms that expand access to adequate and affordable housing for low- and middle-income households.