CNCF and Andela Partner to Train 20,000+ African Tech Professionals

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation® (CNCF®) and Andela aim to tackle Africa’s growing demand for skilled tech talent, equipping 20,000 to 30,000 professionals with Kubernetes expertise and opening pathways to global remote job opportunities.

What’s happening

• The partnership, in collaboration with Linux Foundation Education, will offer free training on Kubernetes and cloud-native basics over the next two to three years.
• Participants will work toward certifications like Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA) and Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD).

Zoom in

• According to Google’s Africa Developer Ecosystem Report 2021, the increased global demand for remote tech talent, which was accelerated by the pandemic, created more remote employment opportunities for African developers.
• African developers are increasingly sought after in global remote tech markets. Google’s 2021 report highlights that 38% of African developers now work for companies outside the continent.
• Andela’s CEO, Carrol Chang, underscores Africa’s role in solving the global tech talent shortage: “Organizations need advanced skills like AI and cloud-native expertise. Africa’s growing developer base is key to bridging the gap.”

The big picture

Cloud-native skills are in high demand. CNCF research shows:

• 55% of developers secured new jobs after completing training.
• 81% cited cost as a barrier to obtaining certifications.
• The need for cloud-native developers continues to increase and a recent study by CNCF revealed that almost 55% of developers landed a new job as a result of training and certification courses.
• Almost 7 in 10 (67%) said it made them feel more engaged and fulfilled in their work. However, 8 in 10 (81%) also said cost prevented them from completing certifications

What they’re saying

• Chris Aniszczyk, CTO, CNCF: “This partnership provides opportunities for communities that lack access while meeting companies’ need for skilled workers.”

• Clyde Seepersad, Linux Foundation Education: “Certifying underrepresented groups amplifies our impact and sustains open source growth.”

What’s next

Training begins in 2025, with participants drawn from Andela’s African talent marketplace spanning 49 countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.

The bottom line

With Africa’s young and rapidly growing developer population, this partnership aims to close the skills gap, creating a win-win for global companies and African talent.