The Top 5 Web3 Job Market Trends in Africa: Top Ways To Be Ready For It
Jul 30, 2024
Key Insights
- Top roles include blockchain developers, community managers, legal consultants, Web3 trainers, and country managers.
- Necessary skills range from technical development to legal expertise and community engagement, with preparation through self-learning and hands-on experience.
- Rising Web3 adoption in Africa, driven by financial inclusion and secure transactions, underscores the importance of preparing for these roles now.
Primer
The Africa Tech Summit 2024 highlighted a potential rebound in crypto interest across the continent. It forecasted a rise in Web3 adoption in 2024, driven by local currency devaluation, rising living costs, and high unemployment.
Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa are at the forefront of adopting Web3 technologies. What has turbo-charged this shift is the urgent need to tackle persistent challenges such as financial inclusion, secure transactions, and transparent governance.
Thus, employment opportunities have emerged in various fields within the blockchain ecosystem.
If you’re already in a related field or seeking a new opportunity, you can consider exploring fresh avenues to advance your career.
With employment opportunities scarce, blockchain offers valuable prospects for self-employment, contractual, part-time, freelance, and full-time jobs.
However, one of the pressing issues identified during the Kenya Blockchain and Crypto Conference 2024 was the current skills mismatch in the market that necessitates targeted talent development, entailing identification, training, and absorption.
To advance this conversation, this article highlights the top 5 Web3 job market trends in Africa and how you can prepare for them. Here are the top suggestions:
Blockchain Development
At the top of the list is blockchain development. It’s no surprise that since blockchain’s emergence, there has been a surge in opportunities for creating smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). If you have a nudge to write code, companies are willing to pay to ensure the functionality and efficiency of their blockchain platforms. You need a keen eye for detail to meet the design, security, and scalability objectives required. This way, you’ll be actively involved in creating innovative solutions for various industries.
The skills required to be a blockchain developer include, but are not limited to, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL,.NET, AJAX, Visual Studio, Javascript, JQuery, Node.js, REST, neural networks, regression, Agile Scrum, Rust, and Go.
You should familiarize yourself with blockchain technology concepts and networks such as Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, Polkadot, Binance Smart Chain, Solana, Cardano, and Corda, as well as tools like Truffle and Hardhat for smart contract development.
The most proactive and practical way to learn these skills with minimal resources is through self-learning via YouTube and online developer communities. For example, a Youtube channel like Patrick Collins offers free Solidity programming tutorials. To advance further, start attending hackathons, build-a-thons, and coding meetups in your area to gain hands-on experience. For instance, Celo Kenya CodeJam is a monthly event in Kenya that brings together talented developers and programmers to showcase their creativity on the Celo blockchain. Besides, you can enroll in developer programs such as Adanian Lab’s DLT Africa Regional Developer Programme!
Community Management
A crucial component of Web3 projects is communities. Community members can participate in decision-making and understand their roles in the ecosystem beyond being mere consumers. Therefore, projects enhance user adoption, input, development, market awareness, and security by fostering a vibrant, engaged community.
In this regard, community managers engage with the community, answering their questions, posting about opportunities, sparking discussions, conducting polls, and other interactive activities.
Community managers must be proficient in blockchain fundamentals like distributed ledger technology, consensus mechanisms, and smart contracts. You must be familiar with developing content strategy for various platforms such as Telegram, Discord, LinkedIn, etc. The task is to capture the brand voice and the projects they support accurately. Sometimes, you’ll have to create or post memes and funny videos to energize your audience.
Legal Consultancy
You can’t do away with legal consultants when entering any market in Africa. They are at the forefront in ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks and navigating legal complexities. Legal consultants assist Web3 companies in developing contracts, managing intellectual property issues, and launching products.
Their job requirements include understanding legal infrastructure, which typically starts with obtaining a degree or master’s in law or a related field. This knowledge is essential in structuring and governing coin offerings and smart contracts. A common practice is creating LLCs and LLPs specializing in blockchain and crypto advisory services. Thus, their clients benefit from diverse expertise in litigation, employment, conveyancing, and corporate and commercial law.
Web3 Trainers and Educators
Due to the need for awareness and education about the increasingly complex blockchain, the demand for Web3 trainers is rising in Africa. This role involves identifying company training needs, scheduling sessions, and directing seminars, workshops, and lectures. The trainer must develop and maintain a training program, coordinate digital materials, organize classrooms, conduct role-playing activities, identify skill gaps, schedule regular sessions, assess course impact on staff performance, maintain training records, and provide post-training feedback. This way, companies can teach individuals about their blockchain projects, functionalities, and underlying mechanisms.
For example, Kushite East Africa ICP Hub launched a Web3 hub to increase ICP blockchain’s advocacy, awareness, and adoption in East Africa. Educators and trainers are expected to conduct campus tours to teach aspiring developers, facilitate hackathons, and offer certification. Again, an edutech web3 institution like Ayaveristy has instructors for its blockchain technology, decentralized finance, and NFT courses.
Country Manager
Though not spoken about enough, country managers are becoming crucial for firms wishing to expand their market share in Africa. Country managers oversee sales, partner acquisition, country-specific operations, profitability, marketing, and strategy. As businesses enter new markets, they require a person on the ground to set up their sales strategies, manage distribution channels, execute account acquisition and growth, and retain clients. This entails developing country-specific tactics and extensive market research to adapt a brand’s business model.
Thus, country managers must strive to create networks with industry experts and give feedback on the met objectives. To prepare, individuals should stay updated with Web3 industry trends and gain experience in affiliate marketing, community marketing, and forming partnerships.
Blockchain and Web3 are still nascent in Africa, but those who begin preparing now will reap significant benefits in the future.
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