CAHF Open Access Initiative

The Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa (CAHF) is an independent think tank dedicated to improving housing markets across Africa to increase affordability. With extensive experience in research, advocacy, and market development, CAHF collaborates with various stakeholders to enhance the availability and quality of affordable housing across the continent spanning multiple countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Senegal, and South Africa.

This project is part of CAHF's Open Access Initiative, which aims to gather and share micro-level data regarding affordable housing projects. This new tool will facilitate the collection, analysis, and reporting of accurate data, ultimately supporting market development and informed decision-making for stakeholders.

The main challenge of this project was in creating a seamless and intuitive user experience in collecting a vast amount of diverse data points. The previous Google Sheets-based system was cumbersome and difficult to scale. The new solution supports user satisfaction and engagement throughout the entire data collection journey while handling the complexities of large volumes of diverse data inputs.

The success of this project will be measured by the design and development of a robust, scalable, and user-friendly data collection tool that improves upon the previous Google Sheets system, enhancing data entry efficiency, reporting accuracy, and supporting CAHF’s housing market initiatives across Africa.

To address the challenge of handling vast amounts of data, this solution focuses on creating a clean, intuitive user interface and streamlined navigation. This ensures that users can efficiently find and submit data without feeling overwhelmed by the volume of information required.

Confusing data entry points are improved by enhancing interface clarity, adding helpful text, and providing error messaging when necessary. These changes guide users through the input process and minimize mistakes, resulting in better quality of data.

The lack of progress status made it difficult for users to track their submissions. This is resolved by incorporating progress bars and allowing users to pause and return to their tasks, ensuring a more seamless and less stressful data submission experience.

To ensure data accuracy, a verification process is now included, allowing users to review and revise their submissions. The addition of clear revision messages further improves the integrity and reliability of the data collected.

The CAHF data collection and analysis tool represents a significant leap forward in streamlining the management of affordable housing data across Africa. By transitioning from an outdated and cumbersome system to a user centric platform, the project has empowered CAHF’s teams to efficiently carry out critical tasks at both micro and macro levels. This improved system not only simplifies data management but also bolsters CAHF’s ability to make informed decisions, share valuable insights with stakeholders, and drive positive change in the affordable housing market.

Through close collaboration with CAHF, the team that I partnered with successfully delivered a scalable, user-friendly solution that addresses key pain points and supports CAHF’s mission of expanding access to affordable housing across Africa. As the tool continues to be implemented, it is poised to offer long-term benefits, enabling data-driven growth and facilitating a more efficient, transparent, and impactful housing sector for years to come.