Knowledge gaps in the construction of rural healthy homes: A research agenda for improved low-cost housing in hot-humid Africa. The population of Africa is projected to increase 3-fold before 2100. Enormous resources will be required to construct houses for the predicted additional 2.5 billion new inhabitants (alongside provision of food, education, medical care, and other essentials). This population growth presents an opportunity to incorporate housing concepts that can improve health and well-being. Well-designed houses should provide thermal comfort and a barrier to separate disease carrying vectors from residents, decrease indoor pollution, and incorporate water supply, sanitation, electricity, and security.

According to the United Nations’ medium-scenario projections, Africa’s population will rise to 2.5 billion in 2050 and to more than 4 billion in 2100, which is the fastest population growth rate in the world . This population growth in tropical Africa results in a large and unmet demand for appropriate housing, which contributes to insecurity, poor health, and migration. Nevertheless, sub-Saharan Africa is predicted to have the second fastest growing regional economy by 2020 , which would be an opportunity to invest in healthy house designs that help meet targets on disease and well-being . There is a notion that the rural population in Africa is stable or even shrinking due to urban migration . In fact, the rural population is increasing rapidly (1.9% annual population growth in 2016) albeit at a slower rate than the urban population (4.1% annual population growth in 2016) . With the steady proliferation of cheap public transport by bus and motorbike, the rural population has become more mobile , allowing rural residents to seek work elsewhere while maintaining (and possibly improving) their village residence.