About Inform2Build
Inform2Build is a collaborative network dedicated to improving housing and everyday life in informal settlements across Sub-Saharan Africa. We document traditional building techniques, connect organizations and researchers, and bring community stories to light. Through shared knowledge, partnerships, and on-the-ground insights, we work toward sustainable, resilient, and inclusive housing solutions shaped by the people who build them.
Our Mission
We aim to connect with researchers, practitioners, and institutions working in Sub-Saharan African countries, especially those engaged in informal settlements, housing, construction materials, and community development. We are particularly interested in partners who value knowledge exchange, collaboration, and co-creation—whether through building networks with local organizations, developing data-collection approaches, or scaling project outcomes.
What Makes Us Different
Inform2Build stands apart because it bridges the gap between local knowledge and academic research in a way few networks do. Rather than imposing external solutions, we start by documenting and valuing the traditional construction techniques still used today in informal settlements across Sub-Saharan Africa. We focus on stories, skills, and lived experiences—treating residents not as beneficiaries but as experts of their own environments. Our approach combines human-centered storytelling with architectural and technical data, creating a unique evidence base that reflects both cultural knowledge and physical construction practices.
Join Us
At Inform2Build, we believe that meaningful change begins with shared knowledge and collective action. We invite researchers, practitioners, and organizations working in Sub-Saharan Africa to connect with us, exchange insights, and contribute to a growing understanding of how people build and improve their homes in informal settlements. Whether you work in community development, housing, engineering, architecture, social research, or grassroots organizing, your experience matters.