Gig economy emerges as key driver for SDGs in Sub-Saharan Africa

A new study examines the potential of digital gig work to support sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Published in Societies, the study “The Emerging Gig Economy and Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa”, the research outlines how the gig economy can help address persistent unemployment and inequality but warns that its contribution to the region’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains constrained by infrastructure gaps, informality, and policy shortcomings.

The study highlights that the rise of platform-based gig work, from online freelancing to ride-hailing and food delivery,  offers opportunities to broaden access to income and digital markets. However, without structural reforms, the gig economy risks reinforcing precarious work rather than delivering long-term social and economic progress.

Opportunities for youth, women and inclusive growth

SSA’s gig economy has grown rapidly due to expanding mobile internet access, the spread of smartphones, and the adaptability of young workers. Countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa have become leading hubs for online gig work and local platform services, providing alternatives for a workforce often locked out of formal employment.

The research finds that gig work holds particular promise for youth and women, who face some of the highest unemployment and underemployment rates in the region. Online freelancing platforms allow young people to access global clients and earn income without leaving their home countries, while women increasingly participate in crowd work and flexible platform-based services that fit around domestic responsibilities.

Gig platforms also play a role in improving financial inclusion. By connecting workers to digital payment systems and recording transactions, platforms can help workers build credit histories and gain access to banking services. This is particularly valuable in regions where formal banking remains inaccessible to many.

The study further notes that gig work can benefit small businesses and local entrepreneurs by reducing barriers to market entry and enabling them to reach customers through delivery, logistics, and digital service platforms. Such activity supports progress toward SDGs related to poverty reduction, gender equality, and decent work.

Persistent challenges undermine the gig economy’s potential

Despite its rapid expansion, the gig economy in SSA faces significant structural and socio-economic barriers that limit its contribution to sustainable development. The authors highlight that while gig work often provides higher hourly pay than traditional informal sector jobs, it rarely delivers stable or sufficient income due to irregular demand and intense competition.

The prevalence of informality continues to be a major obstacle. Most gig workers remain outside social protection systems, lacking access to health insurance, pensions, or collective bargaining mechanisms. This leaves them vulnerable to sudden drops in earnings, health emergencies, and exploitation.

Women’s participation in gig work, though rising, remains uneven and concentrated in lower-paid roles such as domestic services and data entry tasks on crowd work platforms. Structural inequalities, including the gender digital divide, limited access to reliable internet, and unequal household responsibilities, continue to constrain their economic opportunities.

The authors also point to infrastructure gaps, including unreliable electricity and inadequate broadband coverage, as critical constraints on the sector’s growth. Many rural areas remain excluded from digital platform opportunities, deepening urban-rural disparities in access to gig work.

The lack of tailored regulatory frameworks for platform work in SSA further hampers progress. In the absence of clear labor standards or protections, disputes over wages, contracts, and working conditions often go unresolved. This regulatory vacuum can perpetuate precarious work practices and hinder efforts to align gig work with the SDGs.

Policy and investment pathways for sustainable development

The authors argue that realizing the gig economy’s potential for sustainable development in SSA requires coordinated efforts across multiple fronts: policy reform, investment in infrastructure, and skills development.

The study recommends strengthening digital infrastructure, particularly expanding broadband networks and improving electricity access, to ensure that workers across urban and rural areas can participate in the gig economy. This would broaden the reach of platforms and improve inclusivity.

Governments and regional bodies are urged to design labor policies tailored to platform work, including portable social protections, minimum standards for fair pay, and accessible dispute resolution mechanisms. Such measures would reduce precarity and align the gig economy with the SDGs’ emphasis on decent work and reduced inequalities.

Education and training programs are identified as critical to equipping workers with digital literacy and entrepreneurial skills. By enhancing competencies in areas such as freelancing, e-commerce, and data services, young workers can better compete for higher-value opportunities within the global gig economy.

The authors also stress the importance of public–private partnerships and collaboration with civil society organizations to promote responsible platform practices and to ensure that gig workers’ voices are represented in policymaking. Such collaboration can help foster innovation while embedding standards for equity and fair participation.

Crossroads for gig work and sustainable development

The gig economy in Sub-Saharan Africa stands at a crossroads. With the right investments and governance, digital platforms could become an engine for inclusive growth, helping countries address persistent youth unemployment and gender disparities while supporting progress toward the SDGs.

However, if current structural constraints persist, the gig economy risks deepening economic precarity and reinforcing existing inequalities. The authors highlight that the future trajectory will depend on the region’s ability to balance technological innovation with effective regulation, infrastructure development, and equitable access.