Information
Inform2Build is a collaborative network of organizations dedicated to working with informal settlements across Sub-Saharan Africa. Our mission is to improve lives and enhance the quality of housing by combining local knowledge, innovative research, and practical solutions.
Launched in May 2025 and funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, Inform2Build focuses on documenting traditional construction techniques, understanding material choices, and exploring the challenges residents face in building their homes. Informal settlements are home to over 1.1 billion people, many of whom rely on their own ingenuity and resources to create resilient, sustainable, and affordable housing.
By listening to communities, documenting their practices, and sharing insights across our network, Inform2Build seeks to inform policy, inspire design, and guide future housing solutions that are inclusive, adaptable, and rooted in local knowledge.
Who are we
Inform2Build is a platform for connection, collaboration, and innovation. We bring together organizations and individuals working with informal settlements to exchange knowledge, showcase their work, and bring community stories to life. Through our network, members explore new partnerships and projects that advance sustainable, inclusive, and resilient housing, turning shared insights into action that makes a real difference on the ground.
Mission
At Inform2Build, our mission is to connect knowledge, practice, and communities to improve housing in informal settlements across Sub-Saharan Africa. We document and share traditional construction techniques, facilitate collaboration between organizations and individuals, and bring community stories to life. By turning research and local wisdom into actionable insights, we aim to inspire sustainable, resilient, and inclusive housing solutions that make a lasting impact.
Vision
We envision a world where informal settlements are recognized as hubs of knowledge and innovation, and where traditional building practices inform sustainable, resilient, and inclusive housing solutions for communities across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Geographical reach
Inform2Build has conducted field visits in Dakar (Senegal), Lomé (Togo), Cotonou (Benin), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Nairobi and Mombasa (Kenya), Kampala (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda), and Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar (Tanzania). In each city, we have connected with local organizations and researchers and visited informal settlements to understand housing practices firsthand. Our network continues to grow, with collaborators in additional countries and plans to expand further across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Upcoming events
Inform2Build Webinar – Date to be announced
Our first webinar will explore how communities can adopt locally made materials for informal housing. UrbaSen (Senegal) and SSA (Uganda) will share their strategies for engaging residents and overcoming skepticism, alongside a resident’s perspective on embracing these solutions.
Heat2Hope Competition
In partnership with IHS, SDI, and World Habitat, the Heat2Hope competition challenges innovators to design resilient, affordable, and cooler roofs for informal settlements, tackling indoor heat stress and improving living conditions.
Let's hear their stories
SHIBOKA is an upcoming podcast series by Inform2Build that brings the voices of women in informal settlements to the forefront. The series highlights women’s experiences and initiatives that address environmental, social, and livelihood challenges in their communities.
Through audio-visual storytelling, listeners will hear women share their journeys, strategies, and the impact of their work on families and neighborhoods. SHIBOKA showcases inspiring projects, celebrating women as active agents of change and giving their stories a platform to be heard.
We invite organizations, researchers, and community members to help us expand SHIBOKA by sharing stories, recordings, or voice notes of women in informal settlements. Together, we can give these voices a platform, bring their experiences to life, and inspire change.
Send us an email titled: Shiboka_your name
Connecting minds, building futures
At Inform2Build, we believe in the power of collaboration. We're committed to providing the resources and connections needed to turn innovative ideas into reality. Explore our collaboration projects and see how you can get involved.
