Settlement Morphology and the Urban Health ‘Advantage’ in West Africa: Spatial Determinants in a Changing Demographic and Climate Context

Population aging and urbanization are “mega-trends” posing major challenges for the next decades, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In fact, SSA is the fastest-urbanizing region worldwide and will experience the greatest increase in the number of adults aged over 60 years, who are expected to triple by 2050.

This interdisciplinary research project contributes to current scientific debates on these global challenges by pioneering the use of an “urban morphology” approach to public health and well-being. It provides novel, empirical evidence to address a critical knowledge gap: to understanding what the spatial characteristics of “age-friendly environments” (a terminology used by World Health Organization) are in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. Focusing on Côte d’Ivoire as a case study, this research examines how different forms of human settlement across the rural-urban gradient relate to indicators of healthy aging – thus, moving away from the frequently used dichotomy "urban" versus "rural".

From a spatial planning and design perspective, the results will show which spatial features from both “urban” and “rural” environments contribute to healthy aging. From a policy perspective, this study will expose mismatches between global frameworks on age-friendly environments and local perceptions, providing evidence-based recommendations for more context-sensitive approaches.