ICT

With a consultant who has fifteen years of professional experience acquired in management positions in the information and communication technology sector, Phénicia Conseil provides effective support to its clients in the search for talent suited to the functions of new technologies.

Sector Overview:

International recruitment agencies agree that the sector recruiting most heavily on the African continent is Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and more specifically, IT-related professions. These types of companies, which also experience high turnover rates, recruit hundreds of candidates every month and draw heavily from engineering school graduates before the end of each academic year. This means that IT engineers are the easiest to integrate into the job market.

Overall, international and local groups in this sector post positive financial results every quarter. They also benefit from considerable room for maneuver, with the challenge of bridging the rather significant digital divide compared to developed countries.

Indeed, internet access, the development of new platforms and applications, and the expansion of services to other sectors represent open and accessible market opportunities for companies in this field. The digital age has revitalized business performance across the continent. In turn, international recruitment in the digital sector is significant, with thousands of jobs generated.

Many ICT companies are fiercely competing to attract top talent (preferably local professionals or those from the African diaspora).

Call centers, which are benefiting from the crisis, are also contributing to the success of this ICT sector in terms of job creation. Having experienced growth for years and facing high turnover, call center operators have continued to hire.

Often, young people don’t take this profession seriously and don’t plan to pursue a career in it. They limit their time in call centers to a few months, just long enough to find a position that better matches their academic background.

Furthermore, since those fluent in French are relatively rare, the best candidates don’t hesitate to leave their companies as soon as a more attractive offer is made to them by a competitor.

Since the 1990s, ICT entrepreneurship and tech startups have spread worldwide.

Coworking spaces and other incubators do indeed exist on the African continent. Mauritius, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and South Africa have all initiated this development.

These structures aim to energize “technological ecosystems” and/or support project leaders or established companies in their growth.

These new support models foster the creation of new professions focused on interpersonal skills and knowledge of the development phases of a technology company. A dual expertise in ICT and business is certainly a definite advantage. The same is true for versatility, which is highly sought after. This sector is actively seeking candidates with a strong grasp of new technologies.

Key ICT Roles, Training and Qualifications

Web Developer


The Web Developer builds websites and transforms designs into functioning pages. Using HTML5 and CSS3, they integrate content (text, images, audio, video), ensure compatibility across search engines, manage client-server communication, and handle databases. They bring websites to life from backend structure to frontend design.

After secondary school:
Entry-level roles require BTS SN (Digital Systems) or BTS SIO (IT Services for Organisations). Professional bachelor’s degrees, licences, or master’s degrees in computer science are also relevant, particularly with a focus on web development.

 

Mobile Application Developer


The Mobile App Developer creates applications for iOS and Android. Responsibilities include analysing client needs, defining functionality, coding, testing, debugging, providing user support, and producing technical documentation.

After secondary school:

  • 2 years: BTS in Computer Science 
  • 3 years: BUT in Computer Science or Multimedia & Internet, or a professional bachelor’s in IT 
  • 5 years: Engineering degree or Master’s in Mobile Computing 

 

Digital Project Manager


The Digital Project Manager oversees digital product development (websites, e-commerce, web/mobile apps, software), managing budgets, schedules, and deliverable quality. They coordinate teams of developers, designers, and digital marketers.

After secondary school:
Typically requires a Bac+5 from a business school (marketing/communication), generalist or specialised engineering school, or multimedia/IT programme, with professional experience in mobile internet and project management.

 

IT Systems, Network and Cloud Administrator


This role designs system and network infrastructures on-site or in the cloud, ensuring security, managing user accounts, and storing data efficiently. Depending on company size, they may manage 3 to 30,000 machines or specialise in part of the network. With cloud technology evolving, this role is continually expanding.

After secondary school:

  • 2 years: BTS 
  • 3 years: BUT or professional licence in networks and telecommunications 
  • 5 years: Master’s or engineering degree for advanced network systems

DevOps Engineer


The DevOps Engineer bridges development and system administration teams, ensuring smooth application deployment and continuous integration. Emerging since 2009, this role is central to IT teams and continues to grow in importance.

After secondary school:
A Bac+5 is generally required, reflecting the high expertise level needed. This qualification enables DevOps engineers to access competitive salaries and advanced career opportunities.

Cybersecurity Expert


Cybersecurity professionals protect devices (PCs, mobiles, IoT) and information systems (servers, networks) from cyberattacks. Responsibilities include risk assessment, mitigation, and implementing threat management protocols. The sector is rapidly expanding, with global investment exceeding $90 billion in 2017 and strong demand across audit, consulting, telecom, banking, and insurance sectors.

After secondary school:
Bac+5: Engineering degree in IT security, Master’s in IT, networks, or telecommunications, with specialisation in system security, risk assessment, cryptography, or information security.

Data Science Expert


Key roles include:

  • Data Analyst: cleans and interprets data to draw insights 
  • Data Scientist: analyses large datasets to identify trends and make predictions 
  • Data Architect: designs data infrastructure for processing large volumes of data 

Data roles represent 8% of international recruitment and up to 11% in consulting, audit, and telecom sectors.

After secondary school:
Bac+4 or Bac+5 in IT, management, statistics, or marketing is required; some Bac+3 programmes allow assistant-level positions. Big data training programmes are emerging to meet rapidly growing demand.

 

International Recruitment Agency

Phénicia Conseil is a leading international headhunting and ICT recruitment agency, offering proven methodologies to prevent hiring mistakes and deliver the right talent for international assignments.