Human-Machine Collaboration in Sub-Saharan Africa: Bridging the Skills Gaps and Infrastructure Challenges

Africa’s large population faces high unemployment, underscoring the critical importance of livelihood strategies. Artificial intelligence’s (AI) potential to transform work offers opportunities but also threatens the under-skilled workforce. Therefore, this study investigated Sub-Saharan Africa’s efforts to ensure human-machine collaboration to address the challenges of unemployment and related issues of poverty and high inequality. A systematic literature review was conducted to examine studies published between 2020 and 2025. Using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework and the capability approach, it analysed how human-machine collaboration influences progress toward achieving the United Nations Agenda 2030. Findings reveal that the region is unable to benefit from advanced technologies. Additionally, challenges related to infrastructure, digital and AI literacy, telecommunications, and transportation affect business success. With a willing youth population, the region offers universities opportunities to introduce AI curricula and forge private-sector partnerships that equip students with practical AI skills. These findings contribute to the digitalisation literature and highlight potential avenues for skilling and reskilling the SSA’s workforce to coexist with AI systems. Policymakers should prioritise digital transformation to prevent inadequate infrastructure from hindering the region’s development. Addressing these challenges creates opportunities for the region and accelerates progress toward the SDGs.