Modern Methods of Construction Adoption for Combating Productivity Challenges in Africa: A Systematic Review

The construction industry in Africa faces persistent productivity challenges, yet the contextual adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) remains underexamined within a consolidated, Africa-focused evidence base particularly regarding its contribution to sustainable industrialisation. Global reviews on MMC tend to generalise across diverse contexts, rarely interrogating how adoption advances resource efficiency, resilient infrastructure, and inclusive industrial development under Sustainable Development Goal 9. This study provides an Africa-centred systematic review examining MMC adoption dynamics and their intersection with sustainability imperatives. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA framework for transparency and replicability, targeting peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus and Web of Science using predefined MMC-related keywords. Inclusion criteria restricted the sample to studies focused on African countries, published between 2016 and 2026. Following screening, 66 articles were retained for analysis. Bibliometric analysis using VOS-viewer mapped publication trends, geographic distribution, and keyword co-occurrence networks, while qualitative thematic analysis identified recurring patterns in drivers, barriers, and implementation strategies, with attention to their sustainability implications. Four thematic clusters emerged industrialised construction approaches, digital transformation, sustainability integration, and productivity optimisation each reflecting a pathway through which MMC advances SDG 9. Key drivers included time efficiency, quality improvement, and policy incentives, while persistent barriers included high capital costs, limited technical skills, regulatory fragmentation, and weak supply chain integration. The study's originality lies in its regional delimitation and integration of bibliometric and thematic analyses, revealing how Africa-specific structural conditions shape and constrain progress toward sustainable, inclusive industrialisation, offering targeted insights for policymakers, educators, and industry stakeholders.