Informal Housing and Socioenvironmental Conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa Urban Slums: A Case Study of Bonaberi, Cameroon

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and climate change are intensifying the proliferation of informal settlements with dire socio-environmental consequences in Sub-Saharan African cities. Bonaberi, a densely populated area of Douala, Cameroon, exemplifies this, facing poor living conditions, limited services, and environmental degradation driven by population growth, poverty, lack of affordable housing options, and potential failures in government policies. While research acknowledges Sub-Saharan Africa's informal housing crisis, detailed investigations into the specific nexus of housing characteristics and socio-environmental conditions within individual settlements are lacking. There's a gap in understanding how particular housing features directly shape residents' daily lives and environmental challenges in contexts like Bonaberi. This study examines informal housing and its associated socio-environmental conditions in Bonaberi, Douala, Cameroon. It specifically characterize informal housing typologies, assessing residents' socio-economic circumstances and environmental challenges and their perceived impacts on inhabitants' well-being to proffer better management measures for sustainable urban development. A mixed-methods approach was used. 380 household head questionnaires were randomly administered to households’ heads across eight (08) Bonaberi settlements. Fieldwork involved observations and measurements of housing, room and drainage conditions (determined by the size, depth, materials, and sanitation and waste disposal methods) and later compared to the recommended United Nation standards. The Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to ascertain the extent of slums conditions in Bonaberi. Key informant interviews with community leaders and authorities provided qualitative data in addition to a review of the related literature. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences and presented using tables and figures. Results revealed that informal housing is predominantly rudimentary, dilapidated, and substandard, linked to acute poverty and high living costs. Shared pit latrines are common and poorly maintained. Open dumping of waste is widespread resulting to poor drainage systems. Overcrowding and unemployment compound these issues, despite potential upgrading opportunities. The study provides an empirical account of risky informal housing and degraded socio-environmental conditions in Bonaberi's slums, highlighting the urgent need for intervention. Participatory upgrading programs are recommended to deliver adequate housing and essential amenities. Improved access to credit, context-specific policies, community engagement, and public-private investment are crucial for sustainable, inclusive settlements. This study emphasizes a participatory upgrading for sustainable slum management in informal settlements facing housing and socio-environmental vulnerabilities in rapidly urbanizing SSA cities.