Evaluating the Meaningful Participation of Smart Villages in Industry 4.0 Ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa

The study seeks to examine, through a literature review, the level of participation and impact of smart villages in Sub-Saharan Africa. The smart village initiative has the potential to alleviate poverty in rural areas and reduce the rural-urban migration challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Given that Africa has the world's fastest-growing youth population. A total of 29 articles were included in this study following the PRISMA inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study observed that a few smart village initiatives had been implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa. Emphasis is mostly on climate-smart agriculture aimed at alleviating rural poverty and adaptation to climate change. There are challenges in implementing the smart village initiatives, such as a lack of supportive policies, poor infrastructure, lack of electricity, technologies and finances. The success of climate-smart agriculture is necessary for the transition to smart villages, as agriculture is the backbone of most villages in SSA. Collaborations between universities, technology owners and villagers are essential for the successful implementation of smart villages in SSA.