Acknowledgments ix

Executive Summary xi

Section 1 Recent Developments and Outlook 1

  1.1 Growth Outlook in Sub-Saharan Africa 3

  1.2 The Global Environment 22

  1.3 Macroeconomic Performance of Sub-Saharan Africa 26

  1.4 Risks to the Outlook 47

Section 2 Building AI Readiness 55

  Key Messages 57

  2.1 AI Use in Africa: Opportunities for Individuals, Firms, and the Public Sector 60

  2.2 Enablers to Strengthen Adoption and Adaptation of AI 67

  2.3 AI and Digital Use Cases in Sub-Saharan Africa 73

  2.4 AI Governance Readiness in Sub-Saharan Africa: Institutions, Policy, and Pathways for Responsible AI 80

  2.5 Policy Priorities 88

References 91

Appendix: Macroeconomic Tables 96