Africa’s AI Talent Development Landscape – Promoting the Empowerment of Africa through AI Talent Development

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is advancing initiatives centered on AI (Artificial Intelligence) talent development to maximize the developmental impact of AI utilization in Africa.

AI has the potential to drive efficiency and innovation across diverse sectors-including agriculture, healthcare, finance, and education-generating up to USD 1.5 trillion in economic impact for Africa by 2030. For example, in agriculture, advancements in weather forecasting and soil analysis could boost smallholder farmers’ productivity by up to 30%. In healthcare, AI-assisted diagnostics have been reported to significantly reduce neonatal mortality rates.

However, there are challenges. Africa currently has extremely limited access to advanced computing resources and a very low number of locally originated AI patents. Most notably, there is a shortage of AI professionals-Africans account for only 1% of the global AI talent pool. To address these challenges, governments, private sector actors, and international organizations are working together to implement large-scale AI talent development programs and improve supporting infrastructure.

This report presents the latest analysis, based on research conducted from October 2024 to March 2025, on AI talent demand, the shortage of training opportunities, and emerging growth prospects in Africa. It is designed to support strategic decision-making for policymakers, businesses, educational and research institutions, and development partners seeking to build a robust AI talent development ecosystem across the continent.