How to Find a Coder in Africa
The continent of Africa is making giant strides in the global digital economy. Countries like Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa are leading the way in the creation of value chains and solutions for the financial, health and educational sectors, among others. Many of these solutions ride on the back of mobile applications and database systems. You can find a coder to develop these applications and systems.
A coder is a skilled individual who writes programs and applications in several coding languages. Coding is fast becoming the profession of choice for a generation of young Africans, eager to make a mark and have meaningful employment.
Africa already has a growing number of these young professionals, armed with the skills and desires to impact the global economy.
The world is taking note. Many tech firms in the US and the rest of the developed world, are turning to Coders in Africa. The reason for this shift is not far-fetched. For starters, coders in Africa show a desire and commitment to meeting deadlines and delivering on projects. This drive to succeed often lacks in their counterparts from more advanced economies. Then there is the issue of remuneration. Coders in Africa are regularly engaged in compensation plans, less than the value of what goes to coders in the Western world.
If you are seeking to find a coder in Africa to breathe life into a project via coding, the following strategies will prove invaluable:
Engage in networking sessions
Finding a coder in Africa may entail the business making inroads to gatherings and meetings of Coders in Africa. These networking sessions could be online, where one can join coding groups on Social media platforms like LinkedIn or online industry events. Another means to find a coder in Africa will involve attending physical get-togethers of coders on the African continent.
These networking sessions will provide the opportunity to assess the skills/competencies of the coder. These sessions are also important because clients can get a feel of the temperament and work ethic of the coder, especially in an African context.
Request a demo or Prototype
If you have zeroed in on a coder in Africa, the next best step will be to assess his/her technical skills/proficiencies. You can ask you ideal coder to build a program from scratch. This process will achieve a mixture of aims. You will obtain a sense of their speed, accuracy, attention to detail, creativity and other desirable qualities. A simple interview session may not provide the answers the client may require for a hands-on task like coding.
Propose Appropriate/necessary terms of engagement
Coders in Africa are among some of the most sought after digital professionals on the continent. Therefore if you do find one, you should put in the best efforts to keep him/her. One way is by offering the coder some stake in the venture. This path may entail providing the coder with some stake in the business. The client can explain the vision and roadmap of the company. This explanation might spur the coder buying into the overall picture.
Keeping a coder in Africa worth his/her salt may require offering some equity in the business. However, taking this path also depends on other factors, including coder’s experience. In the end, the objective should be to keep your coder motivated and eager to build with the business.
Conclusion
Finding a coder in Africa is not a stroll in the park. For starters, there is a proliferation of companies seeking the web and mobile application developers on the continent. Secondly, the numbers of coders in Africa cannot meet the needs of the market at the moment, since the best programmers are in high demand.
Therefore, businesses/services in need of coders in Africa must employ the techniques to highlight and other methods. The process is not straightforward and requires a mix of strategies to deliver the right candidates for the job.
