Assessing the Sustainability of the Olembé Social Housing Project in Yaoundé, Cameroon

ABSTRACT Cameroon is experiencing rapid urbanization, which has led to increased demand for social housing and a significant rise in real estate development, especially in the capital city, Yaoundé. This growth highlights the critical need to address housing shortages by adopting sustainable development approaches that are economically accessible, socially inclusive, and environmentally responsible. This study critically examines how sustainability principles are reflected in social housing developments in Yaoundé, focusing specifically on the project in Olembé, a neighborhood located in the north of the city. Through an assessment of economic, social, and environmental dimensions with a SWOT analysis, the study identifies key challenges of the project such as limited affordability and inequitable access to the housings, insufficient infrastructure, and high resource consumption during the buildings’ lifecycle. Simultaneously, it acknowledges the project’s potential benefits, including its strategic proximity to Yaoundé’s city center and major infrastructure such as the nearby stadium. Consequently, this study provides a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in embedding sustainability into social housing policies in Cameroon’s rapidly urbanizing context.