Author Guidlines

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Africa Habitat Review (AHR) is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the University of Nairobi. The journal provides a scholarly platform for the generation, dissemination, and exchange of knowledge on the built environment, with particular emphasis on African and Global South contexts. AHR publishes original research that advances theory, policy, and professional practice in planning, design, construction, management, and governance of human settlements.

The journal is published biannually (two issues per year) and is hosted on the University of Nairobi e-Journals platform.

SCOPE & INVITATION OF ARTICLES

The Editor invites original, unpublished, and scholarly articles in, but not limited to, the following areas:

  • Land policy, land governance, and property valuation.
  • Housing studies and human settlements.
  • Architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture.
  • Urban and rural development and spatial planning.
  • Construction management, quantity surveying, and building economics.
  • Building science, materials, structures, and construction technology.
  • Transportation and infrastructure planning.
  • Environmental design, ecology, sustainability, and climate resilience.
  • Indigenous knowledge systems, culture, art, and architecture.
  • Digital technologies, BIM, GIS, 2D/3D design, and graphic communication.
  • Information and data management in the built environment.

Interdisciplinary, comparative, and policy-relevant research is strongly encouraged.

TYPES OF CONTRIBUTIONS

AHR publishes the following categories:

  • Research Articles (maximum 6,000 words).
  • Review Papers.
  • Policy and Practice Papers (maximum 1,000 words).
  • Commentaries (maximum 200 words).
  • Book Reviews

MANUSCRIPT CONTENT & STRUCTURE

All manuscripts must demonstrate originality, systematic inquiry, methodological rigor, and clarity of presentation. A full research article must follow the structure below:

  • Title
  • Author(s) name(s) and affiliation(s)
  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • Introduction
  • Literature Review and/or Theoretical Framework
  • Research Methods
  • Results / Findings
  • Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • Recommendations (where applicable)
  • References

Manuscripts that do not conform to this structure may be returned for technical revision before peer review.

ORIGINALITY & EXCLUSIVITY

Submitted manuscripts must:

  • Be original and unpublished.
  • Not be under consideration by another journal at the time of submission.
  • Properly acknowledge and cite all sources, including prior work by the author(s).

LANGUAGE, LENGTH, & GENERAL FORMATTING

  • Language: English (British or American spelling, used consistently)
  • Maximum length: 6,000 words (including references, tables, and figures)
  • Paper size: A4
  • Line spacing: Double-spaced
  • Margins: Minimum 25 mm on all sides
  • Page numbers: Consecutively numbered

DETAILED AUTHOR STYLE GUIDE

This section provides mandatory formatting and style requirements. Manuscripts that do not comply will be returned to authors for technical correction before peer review. 

Font, Layout, and Page Setup

  • Font type: Times New Roman throughout the manuscript.
  • Font size: 12-point for main text.
  • Line spacing: Double-spaced, including references.
  • Paper size: A4 (210 × 297 mm).
  • Margins: Minimum 25 mm on all sides.
  • Text alignment:
  • Paragraph formatting: First line indented; no additional spacing between paragraphs.
  • Page numbers: Bottom center or bottom right, consecutively numbered.
  • Footnotes: 10-point font, used sparingly and only for explanatory notes (not references).
  • Title Page Requirements

The title page must include:

  • Full title of the manuscript (maximum 15 words).
  • Full names of all authors (in publication order).
  • Institutional affiliations of each author.
  • ORCID ID for each author (mandatory at acceptance stage).
  • Corresponding author’s email address and institutional postal address

 Abstract and Keywords

  • Abstract length: Maximum 150 words.
  • Format: Single paragraph, no citations, no abbreviations unless unavoidable.
  • Content: Brief statement of purpose, methods, key findings, and implications.
  • Keywords: Maximum 10 keywords, listed alphabetically, separated by semicolons.

 Manuscript Headings and Subheadings

  • Headings must not be numbered.
  • Main section headings: Bold, sentence case.
  • Subheadings: Italicized.
  • Avoid more than two levels of headings.

 Tables

  • All tables must be cited in the text.
  • Tables numbered consecutively (Table 1, Table 2, etc.)
  • Table titles are placed above the table, concise but descriptive.
  • Source and year are placed below the table where applicable.
  • Use tabs, not spaces, to align columns.
  • Tables must be editable (not embedded as images).

 Figures

  • All images, maps, charts, diagrams, and illustrations are designated as Figures.
  • Figures numbered consecutively (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.).
  • Figure captions are placed below the figure and must include title, source, and year.
  • Minimum resolution: 300 dpi for photographs; 600–1200 dpi for line drawings.
  • Accepted formats: TIFF, PNG, EPS, JPEG, or MS Office formats.

CITATION, REFERENCES, & DOIs

Africa Habitat Review uses the APA referencing style (latest edition).

 In-text Citations

  • All sources cited in the text must appear in the reference list.
  • Author–date system must be used consistently.
  • Multiple citations should be ordered alphabetically

 Reference List

  • Reference list must be placed at the end of the manuscript.
  • Entries must be alphabetized by author surname.
  • All references must be complete and accurate

 Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)

  • DOIs are mandatory where available.
  • DOIs must be presented as active URLs (https://doi.org/...).
  • Authors are responsible for verifying DOI accuracy.
  • References without DOIs must be checked against publisher databases

ORCID IDENTIFIERS

All authors are strongly encouraged to provide an ORCID ID during submission. The ORCID ID should be included alongside the author’s name and affiliation. ORCID enhances author identification, attribution, and research transparency.

AUTHOR AGREEMENT

Upon acceptance of a manuscript, all authors must sign an Author Agreement form confirming that:

  • The manuscript is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
  • All listed authors meet authorship criteria and have approved the final version.
  • The work does not infringe copyright or intellectual property rights.
  • All conflicts of interest have been disclosed.
  • Ethical standards have been observed.

Failure to sign the Author Agreement will result in non-publication. Below is a sample of the agreement.

The Author Agreement form can be downloaded from the Submissions page. 

  • Plagiarism and Ethics

The Author(s) acknowledge that the manuscript will be subjected to plagiarism and similarity checks. Proven misconduct may result in rejection, retraction, or other editorial action.

  • Copyright and Licensing

The Author(s) retain copyright. Upon publication, the article will be published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.

  • Condition of Publication

Failure to sign and submit this Agreement will result in the manuscript not being published.

  • Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of Kenya.

ERRATA, CORRECTIONS, & RETRACTIONS

Africa Habitat Review (AHR) is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record. Where errors or ethical concerns are identified before or after publication, the journal will take timely and transparent action through errata, corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, depending on the nature and severity of the issue.

  • Errata (Minor Corrections)

An erratum is issued when minor errors are discovered that do not affect the validity of the findings, interpretations, or conclusions. Examples include typographical errors, minor formatting issues, incorrect author affiliations, or small factual inaccuracies that do not change the substance of the work. Errata are published as a separate notice and linked to the original article.

  • Corrections (Substantive Corrections)

A correction (corrigendum) is published where an error affects the clarity, accuracy, or interpretation of part of the article but does not invalidate the main results or conclusions. Corrections may relate to a table, figure, unit, citation, methodological detail, or a section of text requiring clarification. The correction notice clearly identifies what has been amended and is permanently linked to the original article.

  • Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be issued when the journal has credible reason to believe there may be a significant problem with a published article, but the investigation is ongoing or inconclusive (for example, where institutional inquiries are pending). The notice will indicate that concerns have been raised and that the journal is reviewing the matter.

  • Retractions

A retraction is issued where a published article is found to be unreliable or where there is evidence of a serious ethical breach. Retractions may arise from, but are not limited to, plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated or falsified data, unethical research practice, or major errors that invalidate findings. Retractions are intended to correct the scholarly record rather than to punish authors; however, where misconduct is confirmed, additional sanctions may apply.

  • How Notices Are Published and Linked

All errata, corrections, expressions of concern, and retractions are published as separate notices. Each notice will include the article title, author(s), citation details, and a clear explanation of the reason for the action.   and the original article will be clearly marked as retracted, while remaining accessible for the purpose of maintaining the integrity and transparency of the scholarly record.

  • Author Notification and Due Process

AHR will notify the corresponding author when an erratum, correction, expression of concern, or retraction is being considered. Authors may be asked to provide clarification, supporting data, or documentation. Decisions are made by the Editorial Board based on evidence and in line with good editorial practice.

REVIEW & EDITORIAL PROCESS

  • Initial editorial screening for scope and compliance.
  • Double-blind peer review by at least two reviewers.
  • Consolidated reviewer comments communicated to authors.
  • Revised manuscript assessed by the Editorial Board.
  • Final acceptance or rejection decision.
  • The decision of the Editorial Board is final.

PROOFS

  • PDF proofs are sent to the corresponding author for final checking.
  • Corrections must be returned within 14 days.
  • Major content changes are not permitted at the proof stage.

PUBLICATION & FEES

  • Accepted articles are published online on the University of Nairobi e-journal platform.
  • Publication fees, where applicable, are communicated by the Editor.

DISCLAIMER

The views expressed in published articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or the University of Nairobi.

CONTACT & SUBMISSION

Submissions and correspondence should be addressed to:

Prof. Robert W. Rukwaro
Editor-in-Chief, Africa Habitat Review Journal
Faculty of Built Environment and Design
University of Nairobi
P.O. Box 30197 – 00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: sobe.ahrjournal@gmail.com | rrukwaro@yahoo.com | rukwaro@uonbi.ac.ke