This report explores what skills young Africans need to thrive in an AI-enabled future, and how policymakers, educators, funders, and private sector actors can help them acquire those skills. Drawing on interviews with 332 young people across seven African countries, 20 expert interviews, and a review of more than 100 research and practitioner sources, the study identifies key AI-related skills spanning foundational digital literacy, AI-specific capabilities, and sector-specific applications, as well as the significant meta-skill of navigating peer-learning pathways.
But skills alone are not enough. Young people also need affordable access, resilient infrastructure, supportive policy, peer-led learning, and income-focused curricula to use AI effectively. The report offers practical recommendations for building inclusive AI skilling pathways that support dignified and fulfilling livelihoods for African youth.