Jackie Macharia, a 26-year-old software developer based in Nairobi, works for a company headquartered in London that sets up solar panels in India.
In Nairobi and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, stories like Macharia’s—a genuine example of globalization—are starting to become more commonplace. Africa’s technology scene is booming, with over 300 tech hubs that range from software engineering to mobile money to blockchain technology. Global businesses have long relied on workers in far-flung locations for technology services, but until recently African techies hadn’t been on their radar. Now they are.
One reason is the work of Andela, a company based in Nigeria and Kenya that trains software developers and then places them in salaried positions in companies worldwide. So far, Andela has selected more than 600 developers, including Macharia, and has found employment for them as full-time engineers in firms across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.
“There is a mismatch between demand and supply of software developers. Andela offers companies an opportunity to hire African talent and expertise,” says Brice Nkengsi, Andela’s Director of Engineering, who hails from Cameroon.
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