Why Work With Digital Professionals in Africa? What European Companies Should Know
Most European companies that look at Africa are looking for people they can't find or keep locally, rather than for a cheaper option. Africa's working-age population is growing faster than any other region's, and by 2040 it is expected to be the only one still growing (UN World Population Prospects 2024). There is a large pool of English- and French-speaking digital professionals, many of whom have worked for European or American clients, and most countries are 0-2 hours from Central European Time. Whether it works depends mostly on the model around the person: who vets them, who handles contracts and compliance, how onboarding goes, and what happens when someone leaves.
Why European companies look to Africa
The reasons companies give are mostly practical:
- They can't find the people locally. A vacancy has been open for months, or the local market is too small for the stack they need.
- They want people who stay. Turnover at the supplier is one of the most reported weaknesses in sourcing: in a 2025 study of 652 Dutch supplier relationships it was named in 22% of them (Eraneos/Whitelane Dutch IT Sourcing Study). At Tunga, about 1 in 56 placements ended in 2025 because the professional left for another job, and none so far in 2026.
- They want to work in the same hours. Most of Africa is 0-2 hours from Central European Time, so stand-ups, reviews and questions happen during the normal working day.
Cost plays a part for many companies. In Tunga's experience, when it is the main reason the arrangement tends not to last: the reason to stay is the person and the collaboration, and both take time to build.
How large is the talent pool, and where is it?
Google and Accenture counted about 716,000 professional developers in Africa in 2021. A broader count by BCG, based on GitHub and including students and self-taught developers, put the number at 4.7 million in 2024, growing by about 21% a year.
The largest communities are in Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa. Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon have smaller, growing ones. Beyond software engineering, the pool includes AI operators, product managers, designers and data specialists.
Working hours and language
Most African countries are between UTC-1 and UTC+3, which is 0-2 hours from Central European Time. For comparison, Latin America is 4-8 hours behind.
Professionals work in English, and in French in countries such as Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon. The page on working in English or French covers what that means for a Dutch, Belgian or French team.
What can go wrong, and how to avoid it
- Vetting at a distance. A CV is hard to judge without local knowledge, and false identities in remote hiring are a known risk. Work with a partner that verifies identity and assesses people live, not only through automated tests.
- Communication style. Professionals who are newer to international work may be more formal and less inclined to push back than a European team expects. Make it explicit early that questions and disagreement are welcome; a good partner helps with this in the first weeks.
- Infrastructure. Internet and power supply vary by country and city. Ask about each person's setup, including backup power and a second connection.
- Contracts, payments and compliance. Employing someone directly in an African country means dealing with local labour law, tax and payment routes. Most companies work through a partner or an employer of record.
The questions worth asking any provider before you sign are on a separate page, with Tunga's own answers.
Can you find senior people for every stack?
The ecosystem is younger than in Eastern Europe, so the number of very senior engineers varies by country and stack. For a lead role in a niche stack the search can take longer, and sometimes the right person is not available. When that is the case, Tunga says so at the start.
Where Tunga fits
Tunga takes the staffing side off the plate of companies that need digital professionals: software engineers, AI operators, product managers and other digital roles, from across Africa. The client directs the work. Tunga handles finding and vetting, contracts, payments and compliance, onboarding, keeping people, and replacing them when someone leaves or it isn't working. The professionals are independent freelancers contracted by Tunga and work remotely from their own country; the client has one contract, with Tunga, and a delivery manager who checks in with both sides. In 2025, about 1 in 56 placements ended because the professional left for another job. Founded in 2015; 3,500 professionals across 38 African countries and 300+ client companies, as of September 2026.
Tunga is not the right fit when the role has to be on site, when the work means talking to your clients in a language other than English or French, or when saving on cost is the main reason you're looking.
Need capacity now?
Tell us what you're looking for. We'll get back to you within one working day.
Tell us what you need