Training 400+ Engineers Through Project-Based Delivery in Senegal
Digital Africa and GIZ selected Edacy to train over 400 engineers in Senegal across three cohorts over three years as part of the Talent 4 Startups program, proving that engineers learn best when they build production products for partner companies.
At a Glance
Engineers who learn by building
Digital Africa and GIZ selected Edacy to train over 400 engineers in Senegal across three cohorts over three years as part of the Talent 4 Startups program. Across four tracks (fullstack engineering with AI, software architecture, product design, and head of product), engineers learned by building. Ten companies partnered with Edacy to have full AI-powered solutions developed during 12-week engagements.
400+
Engineers trained across 3 cohorts
4 Tracks
Fullstack, Architecture, Design, Product
10 Companies
AI-powered solutions delivered
3 Years
Three cohorts, proven at scale
The Context
A digital skills gap that demands a new approach
Africa's digital economy is growing fast, but the talent pipeline is not keeping pace. More than 70% of African companies report they cannot find the technical skills they need locally. The digital skills gap on the continent is projected to reach 230 million jobs by 2030.
Digital Africa, a subsidiary of Proparco within the AFD Group, was created to address exactly this challenge. Its mission is to give African tech entrepreneurs and enterprises the means to build and scale. Talent 4 Startups, developed in partnership with GIZ's Make-IT in Africa initiative on behalf of Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is a flagship program designed to close the gap between the skills the market demands and the talent available.
Why Edacy Was Selected
Deliver at scale: 400+ engineers across multiple cohorts
Produce engineers with immediately usable skills
Prove that learning works best when tied to the work itself
Established presence and credibility in Senegal
The Challenge
Training that produces performance, not certificates
Traditional training models were not producing the outcomes the ecosystem needed. Engineers were completing courses but struggling to perform in production environments.
Scale
400+ engineers across 3 cohorts over 3 years. The program needed a training partner that could operate at this scale without compromising quality or outcomes.
Production relevance
Production projects for partner companies. The gap was not knowledge. It was the ability to apply that knowledge under production conditions, on production codebases, with actual deadlines.
Employable outcomes
Measured by ability to perform, not certificates. The program needed to produce engineers who could step into production roles and deliver from day one.
How Edacy Delivered
Four tracks. One cross-functional model
Engineers learned by building AI-powered solutions for partner companies across structured 12-week engagements.
Fullstack Engineering with AI
Building production applications integrating AI capabilities
Focus Areas
How It Worked
Engineers built production applications from scratch, integrating AI capabilities into products for partner companies. A dedicated Edacy technical coach reviewed code with detailed, instructive feedback, building understanding through hands-on delivery, not lectures.
Software Architecture
Designing and implementing system architectures for production products
Focus Areas
How It Worked
Participants designed and implemented system architectures for production products, making technical decisions with real-world constraints. Edacy technical coaches guided architecture reviews and provided structured feedback on design trade-offs and implementation choices.
Product Design
Embedded within engineering teams, shipping production interfaces
Focus Areas
How It Worked
Designers worked embedded within engineering teams, shipping production interfaces for partner companies. They operated as part of cross-functional squads, learning to design within the constraints of product delivery cycles and engineering workflows.
Head of Product
Scoping, prioritizing, and driving delivery alongside engineering teams
Focus Areas
How It Worked
Product leaders learned to scope, prioritize, and drive delivery alongside engineering teams. They managed product backlogs for partner companies, making trade-off decisions with actual stakeholders and actual deadlines.
10 Companies. AI-Powered Solutions.
Ten companies partnered with Edacy to have full AI-powered solutions developed during each 12-week engagement. Teams were matched to companies and built production systems over structured sprint cycles. Edacy instructors and technical reviewers guided teams throughout the build process. Each cohort culminated in a Demo Day in Dakar, where teams presented their completed projects to industry leaders, investors, and recruiters.
The Outcomes
Proven at scale. Three times.
400+ engineers trained across three cohorts
Over three years and three cohorts, Edacy trained more than 400 engineers in Senegal, delivering consistent quality and outcomes at a scale that proved the model works.
10 AI-powered solutions delivered to partner companies
Each cohort produced AI-powered products for partner companies through structured 12-week engagements. Teams shipped working systems, not prototypes.
65% placement rate into tech companies
The majority of graduates moved into roles at tech companies, a direct result of training that was built around production delivery, not theory.
Four tracks, one cross-functional model
Fullstack engineers, architects, designers, and product leaders worked together in cross-functional teams, mirroring how product organizations operate.
A model that proved itself three times
Three cohorts over three years demonstrated that the approach scales reliably. Each iteration refined the model while maintaining the outcomes.
Ecosystem impact
The program raised the technical baseline of the local tech ecosystem in Senegal, producing engineers, designers, and product leaders who went on to strengthen the companies they joined.
“We needed a training partner that could deliver results at scale. Not just instruction, but engineers who could build. Edacy's project-based approach produced exactly that.”
Engagement Summary
Ready to build engineering talent at scale?
Let's discuss how Edacy can help you train engineers through project-based delivery, producing talent that can build from day one.