Reframing Sustainability in East African Cities:

Community Perspectives in the Built Environment

Abstract

This study examined how sustainability in the built environment was redefined through community-driven practices in rapidly urbanizing cities of East Africa. Moving beyond technocratic and Northern-centric models, it adopted a Southern urbanism perspective to highlight localized, adaptive approaches to urban transformation. Employing a qualitative, multi-method design—comprising document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and comparative case studies from Nairobi, Kampala, and Dar es Salaam—the research focused on three initiatives: the Mukuru Special Planning Area, the Bwaise Upgrading Project, and the Chamazi Eco-Village. Findings revealed a shift toward place-based, inclusive sustainability frameworks grounded in lived experience, participatory governance, and informal systems. Community agency and co-production were central in advancing spatial justice and environmental adaptation. Nonetheless, institutional fragmentation, centralized governance, and limited recognition of informality constrained implementation. The study concluded that reframing sustainability through a Southern urbanism lens provides a dynamic, context-responsive, and equitable pathway for shaping resilient urban futures in the Global South.