The verdict in three sentences
In Casamance, NGOs and development projects regularly hire executive assistants, and the pay is, as a 2026 order of magnitude, about twice that of a standard secretarial job. To move from one to the other, recruiters look less at the diploma than at command of Excel, Word, diary management, minutes and donor reports. A targeted 40-hour course at 200,000 FCFA covers that foundation, whereas a private BTS costs up to 1,200,000 FCFA a year.
2026 salaries in Ziguinchor: where the gap lies
Ziguinchor hosts many offices of national and international NGOs, agricultural, health and peacebuilding programmes. These organisations pay on scales above the local market, especially under international funding.
| Position | Typical employer | Net monthly salary (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary or administrative assistant | SME, shop, private school | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA |
| Administrative assistant | National NGO | 200,000 to 350,000 FCFA |
| Executive assistant | National NGO or funded project | 350,000 to 500,000 FCFA |
| Executive assistant | International NGO or cooperation agency | 500,000 to 700,000 FCFA |
| Administrative and finance assistant | Donor-funded project | 400,000 to 650,000 FCFA |
| Office manager | Regional office of an international NGO | 550,000 to 800,000 FCFA |
These ranges vary with the donor, project length and seniority. Many positions are 12 to 36-month contracts tied to funding: you need to be able to move from one assignment to the next, and a strong file helps.
What NGO recruiters ask for
Job descriptions published in Casamance repeat the same requirements: writing meeting minutes, Excel tracking sheets, managing diaries and field missions, filing supporting documents, preparing quarterly donor reports, professional email communication in French and often basic English.
| Expected skill | Level often seen in candidates | What the Executive assistant course covers |
|---|---|---|
| Excel (tables, filters, pivot tables) | Simple data entry | Activity and budget tracking sheets |
| Word and report layout | Simple letters | Structured reports, styles, automatic table of contents |
| Diary and mission management | Notebook or phone | Shared tools, field mission planning |
| Meeting minutes | Loose notes | Templates, decision logs, action follow-up |
| Professional written communication | Informal emails | Emails, internal memos, official letters |
| Filing and archiving | Paper | Digital folder structure, audit-ready supporting documents |
Kolonell Academy's Executive assistant course (taught in French) is level 5 Pro Track, 200,000 FCFA (about 305 EUR), 40 h, in the Office and productivity track. The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000.
Comparing training options
| Option | 2026 price | Duration | Strength | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive assistant BTS, private school | 600,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA a year | 2 years | Recognised diploma | High total cost, 2 years without a salary |
| Short course at a local centre | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 2 to 4 weeks | In person | Often limited to basic Word and Excel |
| Free online tutorials and certificates | 0 FCFA | Variable | Free | No NGO-oriented method, no follow-up |
| Executive assistant, Kolonell Academy | 200,000 FCFA | 40 h online | Office tools, organisation and communication combined, certificate | Requires consistency, no classroom |
| Full Office track (5 levels) | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | Several months | From beginner to pro level | Larger investment |
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.
Mariama, 27, is a secretary at a private school in Ziguinchor, earning 180,000 FCFA a month. She takes the Executive assistant course (200,000 FCFA) in the evenings over 8 weeks, at 5 hours a week, then applies to three NGO openings. If she lands an executive assistant job at 400,000 FCFA, her monthly gain is 220,000 FCFA: the course pays for itself in less than one month of the new salary. If her search takes 4 months, her outlay is still below one term of a private BTS. This scenario is an illustration: hiring depends on open positions and the interview.
FAQ
Do I need a diploma to become an executive assistant at an NGO?
Many openings ask for two years of higher education, but experience and demonstrated skills carry a lot of weight. A 40-hour certificate and a portfolio of documents you produced strengthen your file against 30 to 50 applications.
Is English mandatory?
For international NGOs, basic English is requested in about half of 2026 openings. National NGOs and public projects work mainly in French.
Can I take the course while working?
Yes, the 40 hours run online at your own pace, for example 5 h a week over 8 weeks. A second-hand laptop from 150,000 FCFA is enough.
Where can I find openings in Ziguinchor?
Openings circulate on Senegalese job sites, NGO pages, professional WhatsApp groups and by word of mouth. An up-to-date CV ready to send within 24 h often makes the difference.
Is a 700,000 FCFA salary reachable quickly?
That is the top of the range, mostly for experienced profiles in international NGOs. A first position more often pays between 350,000 and 500,000 FCFA.
Take the next step. Enroll in Executive assistant: office tools, organisation and communication: 40 h online, 200,000 FCFA, Kolonell Academy certificate. 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.
