The construction sector in Africa faces growing pressure to meet urbanization demands while reducing environmental, economic, and social impacts. Integrating circular economy (CE) principles into Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) offers a promising pathway toward sustainable construction, yet its practical application in African contexts remains limited. This scoping review synthesizes peer-reviewed and gray literature published between 2015 and 2025, providing methodological clarity on the review process. It critically explores how CE concepts, particularly material reuse, recycling, and design for disassembly, can be systematically embedded within LCSA frameworks tailored to Africa’s unique formal and informal construction dynamics. Drawing on empirical case studies from Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, and South Africa, selected to reflect regional diversity and leading initiatives. The article examines existing applications, pilot initiatives, and sectoral innovations. It highlights methodological challenges, such as the lack of localized life cycle inventory (LCI) data, the invisibility of informal material flows in Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), and the mismatch between Eurocentric tools and African construction practices. Policy analysis reveals fragmented governance and limited adoption of CE in public procurement, despite isolated progress in countries like Rwanda. Capacity constraints in professional education and digital infrastructure further hinder mainstreaming efforts. The article proposes a conceptual framework for integrating CE into LCSA and offers strategic recommendations, including localized LCI hubs, hybrid modeling approaches, CE-focused procurement policies, and capacity development. This study provides a comparative synthesis that demonstrates its unique contribution by showing how inclusive governance and institutional realignment can enable CE–LCSA adoption at scale in African construction.
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