The verdict in three sentences
Switching to AI consulting in Dakar is realistic for a manager, project lead or freelancer with at least two years of experience who already automates their own work with AI. The AI Consultant course (level 5 Advanced, 200,000 FCFA (about 305 EUR), 40 hours, 10 modules) teaches the consulting job: finding clients, diagnosing, pricing, contracting, deploying, training and measuring. Market rates are attractive, but no volume of missions is guaranteed: prepare the switch while keeping your current job.
What the career change really requires
In Dakar, executive teams all ask the same question in 2026: what should we do with AI, on what budget, without putting our data at risk? An AI consultant answers with a method, not a tool demo. This level does not teach you to use ChatGPT: it assumes you already use it well. The course is taught in French.
| Prerequisite | Detail | 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| AI practice | Level 4 "Automate your work with AI, no code" or equivalent practice (custom assistants, Make or Zapier scenarios) | 100,000 FCFA, 20 h if you take it |
| Experience | At least two years in a company, an organization or freelance | None |
| Stance | Comfortable writing and speaking to an executive | None |
| Equipment | A computer, a Google or Microsoft account | Usually already owned |
| AI subscription | About 20 dollars a month | About 11,500 FCFA a month |
| Level 5 course | 10 modules, 40 lessons, 10 projects | 200,000 FCFA |
Over the recommended ten weeks, plan about 200,000 FCFA for the course and 30,000 FCFA of AI subscription, roughly 230,000 FCFA (about 350 EUR) if you already have level 4 skills. Good news: you do not need to be an engineer or data scientist. Projects requiring custom development are identified, and you learn to hand them to technical partners.
What the course makes you produce
The program follows the real flow of a mission. Each of the ten modules ends with a project to submit, and the final project is a complete mission, real (recommended, even at an introductory price) or simulated on a detailed case provided.
| Module | Project to submit |
|---|---|
| 1. The job and its market in 2026 (free preview) | Your AI consulting offer and FCFA rate card |
| 2. Finding your first clients | 90-day prospecting plan, 50 qualified prospects |
| 3. The AI diagnosis | AI diagnosis report with process map and prioritized gains |
| 4. Proposal, pricing, contract | Sales proposal and mission contract |
| 5. Security, ethics, compliance (law 2008-12) | Company AI charter and compliance sheet |
| 6. Roadmap, budget, pilot | Six-month roadmap and pilot plan |
| 7. Deploy, test, hand over | Deployment plan, acceptance testing, handover file |
| 8. Training and change management | Team training program and its evaluation |
| 9. Measuring return on investment | ROI report to management |
| 10. Growing your practice | Complete mission, from prospecting to renewal |
The format is written: text lessons, PDF handouts, exercises with answer keys, quizzes and projects. No video, no live classes; a course forum and WhatsApp support answer your questions. Allow 4 to 5 hours a week for ten weeks. This level tops the Artificial Intelligence track, whose five levels cost 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 as a full track.
Mission rates observed in 2026
The course page quotes ranges seen in Dakar and Abidjan in 2026, with no guaranteed volume, to be read as an order of magnitude that varies by profile:
| Mission type | 2026 range |
|---|---|
| SME AI diagnosis | 300,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA (about 460 to 1,525 EUR) |
| Supported 2 to 3-month deployment | 1,500,000 to 5,000,000 FCFA |
| One-day team training | 250,000 to 600,000 FCFA |
| Monthly support | 150,000 to 500,000 FCFA per month |
| Day rate of an experienced consultant | 100,000 to 250,000 FCFA |
The word "experienced" matters: beginners often charge less at first. Module 1 teaches you to compute your own rate card from your time, your costs and the value created, and to set a floor price. No income is guaranteed.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Consider a hypothetical learner: Moussa, 34, a project lead at a services company in Dakar, who already automates his reports with Make and custom assistants. He studies evenings and weekends without leaving his job.
Illustrative calculation: his investment is about 230,000 FCFA (course plus ten weeks of AI subscription). If the module 2 prospecting plan led to a first diagnosis mission at the low end of the range, 300,000 FCFA, that single mission would cover the cost. A one-day team training at 250,000 FCFA afterwards would be a first net income. Nothing says these missions will come quickly: that is exactly why he keeps his salary during the transition.
FAQ
Do I need to be an engineer to become an AI consultant?
No, for consulting to SMEs and organizations as taught here: diagnosis, market tools, no-code automation, governance and training. Custom development projects go to technical partners. Two years of professional experience are required, though.
Can I take this level without level 4?
Yes, if you already master custom assistants, no-code automations and process documentation. Otherwise, start with level 4 at 100,000 FCFA for 20 hours. Module 1 of level 5 is free: read it to judge.
How much time per week?
About 4 to 5 hours a week for 10 weeks, 40 hours in total. The final project runs alongside modules 6 to 10. Access is lifetime, with updates.
How do I pay and get access?
You pay 200,000 FCFA by Wave or Orange Money at +221 77 596 93 33, and access is activated within 24 working hours. The course is not refundable after activation: read the free module 1 first.
What certificate do I get?
A numbered Kolonell Academy certificate, verifiable online by QR code, to add to LinkedIn, earned by passing module quizzes with at least 70 %; your final project must also be approved by a reviewer. With a client, your deliverables (diagnosis, charter, ROI report) will matter most.
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Take the next step. Enroll in AI Consultant: selling, scoping and delivering missions: 40 hours, 200,000 FCFA (about 305 EUR), Kolonell Academy certificate verifiable online. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
