Pilot enquiry into house building costs : working paper by the secretariat

Abstract

The need to provide adequate housing and related facilities, especially for the low-income group of the population in poses an urgent problem in African countries. The present pilot enquiry into current levels of housebuilding costs in African countries aims at laying the groundwork on which the structure costs could be analyzed. It is thought that through a clear understanding and awareness of the mechanism of cost, the nature and magnitude of the problems to be faced in efforts towards reductions of costs would be identified. In this way attention could be drawn to be the general and specific cost-sensitive areas, where further studies and, analyses would be directed. The enquiry will also be useful in that its very principle suggests the systematic collection and dissemination of information. There is scope for countries to draw on the experience of others for their specific tasks in attempting solutions to the problem of reducing costs.