Platforms and Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa

Jonathan Donner

Platforms aren’t the only story in digitization, but they are a major force reworking how individuals communicate, find work, advertise their products and services, and organize their relationships to almost every sector of an economy.

“The rise of the digital platform firm means that technological effects reach more people faster than ever before” (World Development Report 2019).

Any discussion of livelihoods in 2020 should account for the growing role of platforms.

This report helps inform that discussion.