Potentials for adopting sustainable mixed-income housing in African cities: a bibliometric and systematic review

Abstract

This paper offers an overview of mixed-income housing in African cities, emphasising its importance, challenges, and potential solutions. As urbanisation increases, mixed-income housing becomes crucial for addressing housing inequality, fostering social inclusion, and promoting sustainable urban development. However, its application in African contexts is under-researched. Through bibliometric analysis and systematic review, the study utilised VOSviewer to examine existing research, identifying publication trends, dominant themes, emerging trends, and mapping out research gaps of mixed-income housing in the African context. The study highlights geographical biases and calls for diverse research settings to understand mixed-income housing complexities across different African cities. The emerging trends further underscore the need for tailored policies, community integration, sustainable financing, and long-term impact assessments. However, gaps remain in understanding environmental sustainability, economic impacts, and community dynamics in mixed-income housing. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research, advocating interdisciplinary collaboration and mixed-method approaches to formulate a comprehensive strategic framework. Addressing these gaps can guide evidence-based policies to promote inclusive, sustainable mixed-income housing in African cities, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering resilient urban futures.