Assessing ICT Adoption and Human Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Malmquist Index-Based Efficiency Analysis of Life Expectancy and Literacy Rates

Background: Information Communication Technologies have played a key role in human development; however, literature findings highlight there exists challenges in promoting life expectancy and literary in Sub-Saharan African countries. Objective: The aim of the research paper is to examine whether Information communication Technologies are associated with advancing life expectancy and literacy rates in forty-nine (49) SubSaharan African countries. The key aspects of the UTAUTmodel are explored in this paper to make recommendations to create policies viable for ICT usage to enhance literacy rates and lifespan in SubSaharan African countries. Methods: The research study investigates the relationship between information and communication technologies (ICTs) and human development factors in Sub-Saharan African countries from the period of 2010-2022 in years. The independent and dependent variables are mobile subscriptions, internet penetration, literacy rate and life expectancy. The study applied non-parametric methods Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the Malmquist Index (MI) to assess efficiency and productivity and utilized a Random Forest algorithm for predictive modelling. Results: ICT penetration variables show positive associations with life expectancy and literacy in Sub-Saharan African countries. Random Forest analysis indicates that internet access has a stronger influence on life expectancy and literacy rates in Sub-Saharan African countries compared to mobile subscription accessibility. Conclusions: The research findings suggest that ICT investments united with adoption-facilitating contexts which entail infrastructure reliability, affordability, skills and trust are associated with human development improvements. A conceptual framework was developed to inform policy makers in SubSaharan African governments and development partners on how to adopt ICTs to improve literacy and life expectancy rates.