Abu dhabi: The African Development Bank has unveiled a strategic roadmap aimed at harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive economic growth and social development across Africa. Developed by the G20 Digital Transformation Working Group, the report titled "Africa's AI Productivity Gain: Pathways to Labour Efficiency, Economic Growth and Inclusive Transformation" provides an in-depth analysis of how AI can be leveraged to foster development on the continent.
According to Emirates News Agency, the study conducted by consulting firm Bazara Tech suggests that an inclusive deployment of AI could contribute up to $1 trillion in additional GDP by 2035. This figure represents nearly one-third of Africa's current economic output and is driven by the continent's expanding digital capacity, favorable demographics, and ongoing sectoral reforms. These factors position Africa as a promising region for AI-driven growth on a global scale.
The report emphasizes that the economic benefits of AI are expected to be concentrated in specific high-impact sectors rather than being evenly distributed across the economy. Five priority sectors have been identified: agriculture (20%), wholesale and retail (14%), manufacturing and Industry 4.0 (9%), finance and inclusion (8%), and health and life sciences (7%). Together, these sectors are projected to account for 58% of the total AI gains, amounting to approximately $580 billion by 2035. The combination of economic size, readiness for AI adoption, and potential for inclusive development makes these sectors pivotal in capturing the AI dividend.
Nicholas Williams, Manager of the ICT Operations Division at the Bank, remarked on the report's strategic actions, stating, "We have set out the key actions in this report, identifying the areas where initial implementation should be focused. The Bank is ready to release investment to support these actions. We expect the private sector and the government to utilize this investment to ensure we achieve the identified productivity gains and create quality jobs."
The report underscores the importance of five interconnected enablers in realizing AI's potential: data, compute, skills, trust, and capital. Reliable and interoperable data serves as the foundation for AI insights, while scalable compute infrastructure ensures efficient deployment across the continent. A skilled workforce is crucial for developing, implementing, and maintaining AI systems, with governance and regulatory frameworks building the trust needed for adoption. Adequate capital investment is also necessary to de-risk innovation and accelerate AI deployment, thereby fostering a cycle of AI-driven growth.
Additionally, the report details a three-phase roadmap toward Africa's AI readiness, consisting of the ignition phase (2025-27), consolidation phase (2028-31), and scale phase (2032-35). Ousmane Fall, Director of Industrial and Trade Development at the Bank, emphasized the importance of timely action, stating, "Achieving early milestones by 2026 will set Africa's AI flywheel in motion. Africa's challenge is no longer what to do - it is doing it on time."