The report “Assistive Technology Landscape in Africa” is based on an extensive scoping review led by Stellenbosch University, in partnership with KNUST, Humanity & Inclusion (HI), and CHAI, and commissioned by the Mastercard Foundation. It draws on 185 scientific studies and 338 grey literature sources.
With an estimated 200 million people in Africa currently needing assistive technology (AT) – a figure projected to double by 2050 – expanding access to AT is both a rights imperative and a key investment in inclusion, innovation, and socio-economic development.
Key findings include:
- Africa’s youth are projected to form the world’s largest workforce by 2030. Investing in youth-led innovation and skills can help them access AT and drive its design, manufacture, and distribution.
- While 70% of African countries have an AT-related policy, only 26% include economic analysis or financial planning, and just 5% include young people as policy actors.
- Mobility aids dominate local production, while major gaps remain in communication, cognitive, and hearing technologies, which are critical for education and employment.
- While early-stage manufacturing and innovation ecosystems are emerging, over 85% of AT products are imported, leaving countries highly exposed to supply chain disruptions and funding shocks
- Regional strengths vary: East Africa leads in digital innovation; Southern Africa excels in research-driven fabrication; West Africa pioneers diverse and sustainable grassroots manufacturing; and North Africa offers institutionalised, high-tech production expertise.