Africa Habitat Review
Journal / Africa Habitat Review / Submissions

1. 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.

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The Editor invites original, unpublished, and scholarly articles in, but not limited to, the following areas: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

3. 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

4. MANUSCRIPT CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

All manuscripts must demonstrate originality, systematic inquiry, methodological rigor, and clarity of presentation.

A full research article must follow the structure below:
1. Title
2. Author(s) name(s) and affiliation(s)
3. Abstract
4. Keywords
5. Introduction
6. Literature Review and/or Theoretical Framework
7. Research Methods
8. Results / Findings
9. Discussion
10. Conclusion
11. Recommendations (where applicable)
12. References

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

5. ORIGINALITY AND 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• Be original and unpublished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)

6. LANGUAGE, LENGTH, AND 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

7. 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 prior to peer review.

7.1 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: Justified
• Paragraph formatting: First line indented; no additional spacing between paragraphs
• Page numbers: Bottom centre or bottom right, consecutively numbered
• Footnotes: 10-point font, used sparingly and only for explanatory notes (not references)

7.2 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

7.3 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

7.4 Manuscript Headings and Subheadings

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

7.5 Tables

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

7.6 Figures

•  All images, maps, charts, diagrams, and illustrations are designated as Figures
• Figures numbered consecutively (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.)
• Figure captions 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

8. CITATION, REFERENCES, AND DOIs

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

8.1 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

8.2 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

8.3 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

9. 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.

10. 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 the sample
of the agreement.

AHR AUTHOR PUBLICATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made between Africa Habitat Review (AHR), published by the University of
Nairobi, and the undersigned Author(s).

1. Manuscript Details
Title of Manuscript:
.................................................................
2. Author Declarations
By signing this Agreement, the Author(s) confirm that:

1.  The manuscript is original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere.
2. All listed authors meet authorship criteria and have approved the final manuscript.
3. The work does not infringe any copyright or intellectual property rights.
4. All conflicts of interest have been fully disclosed.
5. Ethical standards and research integrity requirements have been observed.

3. 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.

4. Copyright and Licensing
The Author(s) retain copyright. Upon publication, the article will be published under a Creative
Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence.

5. Condition of Publication
Failure to sign and submit this Agreement will result in non-publication of the manuscript.

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

SIGNATURES
For the Author(s)
Name (Corresponding Author): ..................................................
ORCID iD: ..................................................
Institutional Affiliation: ..................................................
Signature: .................................................. Date: ....................

For Africa Habitat Review (AHR)
Name: Prof. Robert W. Rukwaro
Designation: Editor-in-Chief
Institution: University of Nairobi
Signature: .................................................. Date: ....................

11. ETHICS AND MALPRACTICE POLICY
Africa Habitat Review (AHR) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and scholarly integrity. All participants in the publication process—authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—are expected to act with honesty, transparency, accountability, and respect for intellectual work. The journal does not tolerate misconduct and will take appropriate editorial action where ethical breaches are suspected or confirmed.

11.1 Principles of Ethical Publishing
AHR is guided by principles of integrity in research reporting, transparency in authorship and funding, fairness in editorial decision-making, accountability for published work, and respect for persons, communities, and cultural knowledge.

11.2 Author Responsibilities
Authors submitting to AHR confirm that their work is original and properly cited; that data, methods, and findings are reported accurately and without fabrication, falsification, or selective omission; and that the manuscript is not under concurrent consideration elsewhere. Authors must disclose funding sources and any conflicts of interest, obtain permissions for copyrighted material, comply with ethical requirements for studies involving human participants or sensitive data, and ensure that all listed authors meet accepted authorship criteria.

11.3 Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers are required to provide objective, constructive, and timely assessments, to maintain confidentiality, to declare conflicts of interest, and to avoid bias or discriminatory language. Reviewers must alert the Editor to suspected ethical concerns,
including plagiarism, redundant publication, or data irregularities.

11.4 Editorial Responsibilities
Editors and the Editorial Board are responsible for ensuring fair, independent, and confidential peer review. Publication decisions are based on scholarly merit and relevance to the journal’s scope. Editors will manage conflicts of interest and take appropriate action where ethical concerns arise.

11.5 Unethical Behaviour and Malpractice
Unethical behaviour includes, but is not limited to: plagiarism or self-plagiarism; data fabrication or falsification; duplicate or redundant publication; improper authorship practices; undisclosed conflicts of interest; citation manipulation; failure to obtain ethical approval or protect participant confidentiality; and manipulation of the peer-review process.

11.6 Handling Allegations of Misconduct
Allegations of misconduct are handled confidentially and fairly. The Editor conducts an initial assessment, seeks clarification from the author where necessary, and consults the Editorial Board or external experts as appropriate. Decisions are based on evidence and proportional to the severity of the breach.

11.7 Editorial Actions and Sanctions
Where misconduct is confirmed, AHR may apply one or more actions, including manuscript rejection, withdrawal prior to publication, publication of corrections or expressions of concern, retraction of published articles, author submission bans, and notification of affiliated institutions in serious cases.

11.8 Post-Publication Ethics and Appeals
Ethical issues identified after publication will be addressed through corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions, which will remain permanently linked to the original article. Authors may submit evidence-based appeals to the Editor-in-Chief; the decision of the Editorial Board after appeal is final.

12. PLAGIARISM POLICY AND PENALTIES
All submissions are screened using similarity-detection software (e.g., Turnitin).
• Acceptable similarity index: Below 15% (excluding references)
• Manuscripts exceeding this threshold may be rejected or returned for revision
• Severe or intentional plagiarism will result in outright rejection and possible submission bans

13. OPEN ACCESS AND REPOSITORY POLICY
AHR is an open-access journal.

• All published articles are freely accessible online
• Authors may deposit published articles in institutional or subject repositories, provided
  proper citation to AHR is maintained

14. ERRATA, CORRECTIONS, AND 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.

14.1 Errata (Minor Corrections)
An erratum is issued where 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.

14.2 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.

14.3 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.

14.4 Retractions
A retraction is issued where a published article is found to be unreliable or where there is evidence of 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.

14.5 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.

14.6 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.

15. DATASET AND RESEARCH DATA POLICY
Authors are encouraged to:

• Retain original research data
• Make datasets available in recognized repositories where feasible
• Provide data availability statements

Data confidentiality, ethical approvals, and privacy considerations must be respected.

16. GENDER, LANGUAGE, AND RACIAL INCLUSION POLICY
AHR is committed to inclusive, respectful, and non-discriminatory scholarship.

• Authors should use inclusive language
• Gender, racial, and cultural bias should be avoided
• Research involving human subjects must demonstrate ethical sensitivity and respect for diversity

17. REVIEW AND 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.

18. 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 proof stage

19. PUBLICATION AND FEES

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

20. COPYRIGHT AND LICENSING

• Authors retain copyright
• Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence

21. 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.

22. CONTACT AND SUBMISSION
Submissions and correspondence should be addressed to:

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