Housing Initiative for Eastern Europe (IWO)
Connecting experience. Shaping Housing. Building change.
We connect and shape sustainable urban development in Europe.
EU-funded
Projects
25 years IWO!
IWO has been operating for 25 years as a non-profit association dedicated to promoting professional exchange and cooperation within the housing sector between Germany and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Read more about IWO´s work of the last 25 years!
Eastern Europe – key region for climate protection
For a successful European and global energy transition and climate policy in the direction of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, the building sector is undoubtedly of the greatest relevance. There is immense potential for energy savings and efficiency in this sector, the exploitation of which also promotes environmental protection and decarbonisation. This is particularly true for the building stock in Eastern Europe due to the historical developments in the region in the residential building sector.
In questions of climate protection and sustainability, the countries of the Eastern European region have committed themselves to the same goals as their Western European neighbours and the international community of states. Their conditions and challenges, however, sometimes differ considerably.
Connect and understand
Based in the heart of Berlin, the Initiative Wohnungswirtschaft Osteuropa (IWO) e.V. – Housing Initiative for Eastern Europe brings together private and public partners from Germany and many other countries. Our common goal is to support a market-based, sustainable, ecologically and socially compatible development of the housing and building sectors in Eastern Europe (also beyond the EU), the Caucasus and Central Asia.
The NGO was founded in 2001 on the initiative of the then Federal Ministry of Construction and has since pursued exclusively and directly charitable purposes. Our work and topics concern a social interest that is not immediately apparent: But without increased efforts for more climate protection, higher energy-efficient (residential) building renovation rates and improved living and housing standards, also in the Eastern European region, whose derelict building stock currently represents a large and increasing burden on the climate, the achievement of European and global climate protection and sustainability goals is not possible.
News
The ENABLE project competition and its winners
In November 2025, a competition was launched as part of the project on the topic of "Implementing the principles of sustainable development in housing construction with a focus on energy efficiency in multi-family buildings". The competition rules were drawn up by the...
Decarbonisation of residential buildings in Kazakhstan: Roadmap
ENABLE synergies with international initiatives: the partners of the EU project ENABLE continued their cooperation in Kazakhstan, which began in 2024, with: the Germany-Kazakhstan Energy Dialogue – the official format for cooperation between the governments of...
How can housing be provided quickly and sustainably in Ukraine?
The provision of housing is a priority for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Affordable housing in particular is a very important prerequisite for people to stay in Ukraine or return there. The annual conference "Voices, Visions, Alliances: Co-Creating Ukraine's...
Online training programme of the EU ENABLE project in Kazakhstan – Training of Trainers (ToT)
In 2024–2025, the ToT programme was implemented, which aimed to develop professional and civil society competencies in the field of management and energy-efficient modernisation of multi-family houses (MFHs) as well as to enhance the potential of civil society...
Estonia’s path as a pioneer of serial renovation
by Franziska Beer (IWO e.V.)It can be found throughout Europe, yet it is mainly associated with Eastern Europe, the Baltic Countries and Central Asia. Prefabricated buildings, typically manufactured in series, are considered a relic of the Soviet era. Considered? Even...
Kazakhstan’s housing stock needs comprehensive energy modernization!
With rising utility rates and a deteriorating housing stock, Kazakhstan is increasingly faced with the need to shift from incremental repairs to systemic solutions. The building sector in Kazakhstan is growing steadily: it already consumes 47% of all energy, of which...