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<p>In many African nations, where the labour force continues to grow annually, employment creation remains a significant challenge. Agriculture remains the largest source of employment across the continent; however, its potential is constrained by several factors, notably limited access to credit owing to low levels of financial inclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic has further disrupted both financial and employment opportunities. In this context, the rapid advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) presents a promising avenue for improving access to financial services through digital platforms, particularly for underserved populations. This, in turn, can facilitate access to credit and support job creation. This study examines the role of digital financial inclusion (DFI) in generating agricultural employment in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using panel data from 26 SSA countries spanning the years 2014 to 2021, the analysis employs the System Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) approach. The findings indicate that both digital access and usage significantly enhance employment in the agricultural sector. Moreover, the DFI is emerging as a critical driver of job creation in agriculture. Based on these results, this study recommends that governments and policymakers focus on expanding digital infrastructure in rural areas, developing inclusive digital payment ecosystems, promoting digital agricultural marketplaces, and investing in digital skills and financial literacy. Strengthening data protection frameworks is also essential to safeguard personal information and prevent financial crimes.</p>

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Addressing jobs generation in a post-crisis context: the effect of digital financial inclusion on agricultural jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月9日

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  • Armand Fréjuis Akpa

摘要

In many African nations, where the labour force continues to grow annually, employment creation remains a significant challenge. Agriculture remains the largest source of employment across the continent; however, its potential is constrained by several factors, notably limited access to credit owing to low levels of financial inclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic has further disrupted both financial and employment opportunities. In this context, the rapid advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) presents a promising avenue for improving access to financial services through digital platforms, particularly for underserved populations. This, in turn, can facilitate access to credit and support job creation. This study examines the role of digital financial inclusion (DFI) in generating agricultural employment in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using panel data from 26 SSA countries spanning the years 2014 to 2021, the analysis employs the System Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) approach. The findings indicate that both digital access and usage significantly enhance employment in the agricultural sector. Moreover, the DFI is emerging as a critical driver of job creation in agriculture. Based on these results, this study recommends that governments and policymakers focus on expanding digital infrastructure in rural areas, developing inclusive digital payment ecosystems, promoting digital agricultural marketplaces, and investing in digital skills and financial literacy. Strengthening data protection frameworks is also essential to safeguard personal information and prevent financial crimes.