Africa holds immense potential to address the global seafarer shortage, a pressing challenge that threatens the sustainability of maritime operations and the broader shipping industry. With over 60% of its population under the age of 25, the continent offers a youthful and largely untapped workforce. According to Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s Global Maritime Trends 2050, Africa is emerging as a key reservoir of future maritime talent. However, despite this demographic advantage, African seafarers currently make up about 4% of the global workforce, pointing to significant systemic gaps. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating extensive literature review with empirical research from six selected countries across three African regions (Eastern, Southern and Western Africa) to assess the current state of Maritime Education and Training (MET) and employment trends. Findings point to strong interest in maritime education, with approximately 150 institutions and rising enrolment trends, alongside major challenges. These include limited access to quality training, outdated infrastructure, inconsistent data collection, weak industry linkages, gender disparities, and lack of diversity. Mapping MET institutions, examining enrolment and graduation patterns, and analysing employment pathways reveal both challenges and opportunities. The study underscores the urgent need for modernised training facilities, targeted investment, inclusive policies, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to transform Africa into a global seafaring hub. With strategic investment, policy support and global partnerships, African MET institutions can become engines of a skilled, resilient, and diverse maritime workforce. Africa is not merely a participant in the conversation on seafarer sustainability, it is a vital part of the solution.
Ojwala et al. (2026) studied this question.