Housing
Against a backdrop of poverty, underinvestment in basic infrastructure and contested land development, housing provision is lacking in African cities. In the absence of state support and affordable market opportunities, many households – including those in the middle classes – find housing in the informal sector, with associated insecurities.
As well as providing safety, security and access to essential basic services, housing also gives urban residents access to labour markets, a legal address and even a site for household economic activities. For city and national governments, housing construction is an important source of enterprise activity and employment. The cost, availability and suitability of urban housing options are influenced by multiple formal and informal systems, with a wide range of actors involved.
ACRC will examine the connections between these various systems and actors, along with other pertinent issues – including mass housing programmes versus incremental development, affordable housing, subsidies and environmentally friendly building materials – and how these intersect with other urban development domains.
LATEST NEWS from ACRC


What role can researchers play in driving urban reform?
ACRC hosted a webinar in September 2023 to discuss the role that academics, action researchers and professionals can play in fostering the formation and functioning of urban reform coalitions. In doing so, we wanted to give special focus to how knowledge and evidence can catalyse urban reform coalitions.


Lagos gated communities: Shelter from crime or social segregation?
Gated communities (GCs) are increasingly fashionable in Lagos and have become pervasive in many areas of the city. These restricted access housing areas are planned to privatise usually public spaces.


Webinar: How can knowledge and evidence catalyse urban reform coalitions?
This ACRC webinar will explore the role of researchers in facilitating urban reform, through co-producing knowledge with disadvantaged groups and nurturing dialogue with influential urban actors.