The verdict in three sentences
In Dakar, Excel is still the skill recruiters test most for management, accounting and administrative roles. Kolonell Academy's Practical Excel course costs 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR or 130 USD) for 14 hours online, two to three times less than a training center in Plateau or Mermoz. If you can already type a spreadsheet but pivot tables and XLOOKUP stop you, this is the right level to aim for a better-paid job.
How much does an Excel course cost in Dakar in 2026
The Dakar market offers four main options. The figures below are 2026 orders of magnitude based on public offers.
| Option | 2026 price | Duration | Certificate | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free YouTube videos | 0 FCFA (data: 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA) | Variable | No | No structure, no corrected exercises |
| International online certificate | 25,000 to 60,000 FCFA | 10 to 30 h | Yes, in English | Case studies far from Senegalese SMEs |
| Kolonell "Practical Excel" | 75,000 FCFA | 14 h online | Yes | Requires a computer or tablet |
| In-person training center (Plateau, Mermoz) | 120,000 to 250,000 FCFA | 2 to 5 days | Yes | Fixed hours, transport, leave to take |
| In-company training | 300,000 FCFA and up per participant | 2 to 3 days | Yes | Depends on the employer's decision |
The Practical Excel course: tables, formulas and analysis is level 3, Intermediate of its track, taught in French. You can follow it on a computer or with Google Sheets, at your own pace, in the evening or at weekends. Payment is by Wave or Orange Money, no bank card needed.
What you actually learn in 14 hours
The program has six modules, each with a deliverable you can reuse at work the next day.
| Module | What you can do at the end | Use at work |
|---|---|---|
| Building a clean table | Drop-down lists, data validation, formatting | Reliable sales or cash journal |
| Essential formulas | SUM, AVERAGE, percentages, absolute references | Margin, discount, 18% VAT calculation |
| Logical and lookup functions | IF, IFS, XLOOKUP | Find a price or a customer in one second |
| Sort, filter and read the data | Filters, conditional formatting | Color-coded stock-out alerts |
| Pivot tables and charts | Pivot tables, slicers, two annotated charts | Monthly report for management |
| Ready-to-use management tools | Budget, stock tracking, dashboard | Save several hours per week |
If you are starting from zero on a computer, begin with levels 1 and 2 of the Office and Productivity track, which cover computer basics, email and Word. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA when buying levels one by one, and leads to the executive assistant role.
What Excel changes on a Dakar payslip
Excel does not guarantee a promotion. It does, however, often separate two candidates with the same profile. Here are the gross monthly salary ranges seen in Dakar in 2026 (order of magnitude, varies by sector and company).
| Role | 2026 monthly salary | Expected Excel level |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative assistant | 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA | Data entry, simple formulas |
| Accounting assistant | 200,000 to 300,000 FCFA | Formulas, filters, IF |
| Stock manager | 250,000 to 350,000 FCFA | XLOOKUP, conditional formatting |
| Administrative and finance officer | 300,000 to 450,000 FCFA | Pivot tables, dashboards |
| Junior management controller | About 400,000 FCFA | Pivot tables, charts, budget models |
| M&E officer (NGO) | 350,000 to 600,000 FCFA | Data analysis, reports |
The Kolonell Academy certificate goes on your CV and LinkedIn profile. It matters most when you can show, in an interview, the workbook you built during the course: a recruiter trusts a pivot table built in front of them more than a line on a CV.
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.
Aïssatou, 27, accounting assistant at a distribution SME in Dakar, earns 250,000 FCFA a month. She spends about 6 hours a week copying sales figures by hand for the monthly report.
- Course cost: 75,000 FCFA, paid with Wave.
- Time invested: 14 hours over 3 weeks, about 5 hours a week.
- Estimated time saved after the course: 4 hours a week thanks to pivot tables and XLOOKUP.
Six months later, she applies for an administrative officer role at 350,000 FCFA with her dashboard attached. If she gets it, the 100,000 FCFA monthly difference pays back the course in under three weeks of salary. Even without a new job, the 4 hours saved each week add up to more than 200 hours a year.
FAQ
Do Dakar employers recognize the Kolonell certificate?
It is a private certificate of completion, not a state diploma. It certifies 14 hours of work and specific deliverables. Recruiters mostly look at what you can do, which is why you should present your workbook.
Do I need paid Microsoft Excel?
No. All exercises also work in Google Sheets, which is free. A Microsoft 365 license costs about 45,000 to 60,000 FCFA a year if you want one.
I have never used Excel, can I start at this level?
This level 3 assumes you can type and save a file. If not, start with level 1 of the track, which takes only 5 hours.
How long does it take to finish?
The course lasts 14 hours. At 1 hour each weekday evening, you finish in about 3 weeks.
How do I pay?
With Wave or Orange Money, directly on the course page. Access opens as soon as payment is confirmed.
Take the next step. Enroll in Practical Excel: tables, formulas and analysis for work: 14 hours online, taught in French, 75,000 FCFA (about 115 EUR), Kolonell Academy certificate included. 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.
