AfDB Releases G20-Backed Strategy to Accelerate AI Adoption in Africa

The African Development Bank (AfDB)  has released a new report outlining a strategic roadmap for unlocking the economic and social potential of artificial intelligence (AI) across Africa. Developed under the G20 Digital Transformation Working Group, the report, titled Africa’s AI Productivity Gain: Pathways to Labour Efficiency, Economic Growth and Inclusive Transformation, examines how AI can be harnessed to drive development and inclusive growth on the continent.

The study, conducted by consulting firm Bazara Tech, estimates that inclusive deployment of AI could generate up to US$1 trillion in additional gross domestic product (GDP) for Africa by 2035. This figure is equivalent to nearly one-third of the continent’s current economic output. The report attributes this potential to Africa’s expanding digital infrastructure, favourable demographics and ongoing sectoral reforms, positioning the continent as a promising frontier for AI-driven growth.

According to the findings, the economic benefits of AI are expected to be concentrated in a number of high-impact sectors rather than spread evenly across the economy. Five priority sectors—agriculture, wholesale and retail, manufacturing and Industry 4.0, finance and financial inclusion, and health and life sciences—are projected to account for 58% of total AI-driven gains, or about US$580 billion by 2035. These sectors were identified based on their economic scale, readiness to adopt AI and capacity to deliver inclusive development outcomes.

The report calls for focused early implementation in these areas. Nicholas Williams, Manager of the ICT Operations Division at the African Development Bank, said the Bank has identified priority actions and stands ready to deploy investment to support them. He added that collaboration with governments and the private sector will be critical to achieving productivity gains and creating quality jobs.

The study highlights five interconnected enablers as critical to realising Africa’s AI potential: data, computing infrastructure, skills, trust and capital. It notes that reliable and interoperable data is essential for generating AI insights, while scalable computing infrastructure is needed to deploy solutions efficiently. A skilled workforce is required to build and maintain AI systems, while trust—supported by strong governance and regulatory frameworks—is key to widespread adoption. Adequate capital investment is also needed to reduce risk and accelerate innovation.

To guide implementation, the report sets out a three-phase roadmap for Africa’s AI readiness, covering ignition from 2025 to 2027, consolidation from 2028 to 2031, and scale from 2032 to 2035. The African Development Bank stressed that timely execution will be essential to capturing the benefits of AI.

Ousmane Fall, Director of Industrial and Trade Development at the Bank, said early progress would be decisive. He noted that achieving key milestones by 2026 would set Africa’s AI growth cycle in motion, adding that the challenge for the continent is no longer identifying what needs to be done, but ensuring it is implemented on time.