The Role of Religious Institutions in Socio-Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Religious institutions play a significant role in the social, economic, and political life of Sub-Saharan Africa. Across many countries in the region, churches, mosques, and other faith-based organisations have long operated alongside the Government, frequently complementing limited Government capacity in the provision of social goods and services. Their deep historical roots, extensive organisational networks, and high levels of public trust have enabled religious institutions to exert sustained influence within local communities and national development landscapes. Beyond their core functions as centres of spiritual guidance, moral formation, and charitable activity, religious institutions have historically contributed to socio-economic development through the establishment and management of schools, hospitals, and welfare initiatives. In contemporary development contexts, their contributions have expanded and diversified, extending to measurable socio-economic outcomes such as employment creation, infrastructure and land development, enterprise and financial activity, community development and relief programmes, religious tourism, and contributions to national economic output. These activities position religious institutions as significant, though often under-analysed, actors within broader development processes. Despite their prominence, the empirical evidence on the role of religious institutions in socio-economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa remains fragmented. Existing studies vary widely in terms of conceptual frameworks, methodological approaches, outcome measures, and geographic focus. While some emphasise service delivery and welfare outcomes, others concentrate on governance, leadership, or social cohesion, frequently without establishing clear connections to measurable socio-economic indicators. Furthermore, there has been limited synthesis of how religious institutions contribute across multiple dimensions of socio-economic development, including poverty reduction, employment creation, educational attainment, health outcomes, and social protection. A systematic review focused specifically on Sub-Saharan Africa is therefore necessary to consolidate and critically appraise the existing empirical literature, identify dominant themes and mechanisms of influence, assess methodological quality, and highlight key gaps in evidence and theory. Restricting the review to this regional context enhances analytical coherence and contextual relevance, ensuring that the findings directly inform Africa-focused empirical research, development practice, and policy discussions. By providing a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence, this review seeks to establish a robust foundation for future research on the socio-economic role of religious institutions within African development contexts. 2. Objectives Primary Objective To systematically synthesise and critically appraise empirical evidence on the role of religious institutions in socio-economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Secondary Objectives To identify the domains in which religious institutions contribute to socio-economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa (e.g. education, health, employment, poverty reduction). To examine the mechanisms through which religious institutions contribute to socio-economic development outcomes. To analyse factors that influence the extent to which religious institutions contribute to socio-economic development. To assess the methodological approaches and quality of existing studies examining the role of religious institutions in social-economic development. 3. Review Questions Primary Question What roles do religious institutions play in socio-economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, based on empirical evidence? Secondary Question Which socio-economic domains do religious institutions contribute to in Sub- Saharan Africa? Through what mechanisms do religious institutions contribute to socio-economic development outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa? What factors influence the extent to which religious institutions contribute to socio-economic development? What methodological approaches and evidence quality have been applied to study how religious institutions contribute to social-economic development?