1) 21 of the 30 fastest growing cities in the world are located in Africa, with urban growth rates between 1.8-5.7% annually across various African countries. 2) The percentage of the population living in slums is significant across African countries, ranging from 10.6% in Egypt to 73.9% in Ethiopia. 3) Informal settlements are common in African cities, constructed from found and salvaged materials on vacant land by occupants, with economic necessity being a key driver.

1. G A U G E
African Built Environment Circular Economy Applications
Jeremy Gibberd

2. G A U G E
Structure
• Rapid urbanisation
• Characteristics of African built environments
• Opportunities to apply the Circular Economy

3. G A U G E
Of the 30 world’s fastest growing cities,
21 are in Africa
Urban growth rates
• Ghana 3.39%,
• Nigeria 4.3%,
• Egypt 1.8%,
• Ethiopia 4.6%,
• Kenya 4.2%
• Uganda 5.7%,
Malawi 4.1%,
• Rwanda 2.8%,
Zambia 4.25%
• South Africa 2%
Financial Times

4. G A U G E
Percentage of the population housed in
slums • Ghana 37.9%
• Nigeria 50.2%
• Egypt 10.6%,
• Ethiopia 73.9%,
• Kenya 56%,
• Uganda 53.6%,
• Malawi 66.7%,
• Rwanda 53.2%,
• Zambia 54%
• South Africa 23%
World Bank

5. G A U G E
Informal settlements
• Found and salvaged
materials
• Vacant, well located
land occupied – no
title deed
• Constructed and
maintained by
occupants and
neighbours
• Economic necessity
Gibberd

6. G A U G E
Rapid uncontrolled construction
• Out-of-date
regulations
• Designs not carried
out by engineers
• Minimal controls
• Contractors cut
corners
• Poor quality
buildings and
collapses
BBC

7. G A U G E
Indigenous built environments
• Constructed of local
materials including
earth, timber, thatch
• Built and maintained by
occupants and
neighbours
• Climatically and
environmentally
responsive
• Comfortable, adaptable,
no waste
Ludo Kuipers,

8. G A U G E
African built environment circular
economy applications
• Modular units made from local, recycled and grown materials
which can be self-assembled to upgrade informal settlements
• Combining local material, indigenous knowledge and new
techniques to create zero waste construction
• Integrating and enhancing circular economy approaches within the
informal economy
• Building regulations and enforcement, public private agreements

9. G A U G E
Self-build bio composite components
and kits
• Renewable, bio based /
recycled materials,
bound with bio-based
resin to produce
affordable easily
assembled components
• Upgrading of informal
dwellings, support for
local enterprises,
expandable over time,
low waste.
DAG, Somaiya

10. G A U G E
Indigenous material innovation
• Combines local
materials and
indigenous knowledge
with new products and
techniques
• Low cost, low energy,
comfortable, flexible,
repairable, no waste
buildings that can be
easily built locally.
Gibberd

11. G A U G E
Integrating the informal economy
• Recognise the value of
informal economy to
reducing waste,
recycling, repair, reuse,
creating enterprises
and jobs
• Support local circular
enterprises by
integrate in built
environment design
and management
Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation

12. G A U G E
Building regulations, enforcement, public -
private agreements
• Building regulations
that support circular
economy approaches
• Enforcement that
ensures quality and
avoids waste
• Long term public and
private partnerships
to achieve circular
economy outcomes
Gibberd, DEA

13. G A U G E
Thank you
• Jeremy Gibberd
• Jeremy@gauge.co.za
• G A U G E
• Pretoria, South Africa
• www.gauge.co.za