The verdict in three sentences
In Abidjan, an engineer or project lead who chairs a meeting with a donor, a parent company or a partner from Lagos in English gains access to jobs paid 20 to 40% more than French-only positions (2026 order of magnitude). Individual coaching works but costs 25,000 to 50,000 FCFA (38 to 76 EUR) per hour, over one million FCFA for 40 hours. The Kolonell Academy level 5 Expert English course, 200,000 FCFA (305 EUR, about 335 USD) for 57 hours and 10 reviewed projects, covers leadership, management and the technical English of your sector.
Options for managers in Abidjan in 2026
Energy, construction, mining, telecoms, pan-African banks or projects funded by the African Development Bank on the Plateau: a B2 level is no longer enough when you must reframe a subcontractor, defend a schedule or write a progress report for a donor.
| Option | Indicative price 2026 | Volume | Specialist English | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private executive coach | 25,000 to 50,000 FCFA (38 to 76 EUR) per hour | 40 h = 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA | Depends on the coach | High cost, hard to schedule |
| Language institute (Plateau, Cocody) | 300,000 to 600,000 FCFA (457 to 915 EUR) per semester | 60 to 90 h in groups | Rarely | Fixed hours, mixed levels |
| TOEIC or IELTS preparation only | 100,000 to 250,000 FCFA, exam extra | 20 to 40 h | No | Prepares a score, not a meeting |
| Free online content | 0 FCFA | Unlimited | No | No feedback on your speaking or writing |
| Kolonell Academy level 5 | 200,000 FCFA (305 EUR) | 57 h, 51 lessons, 176 exercises | Dedicated module, 400-term glossary | Requires a starting B2 level |
The programme: 10 modules to lead in English
The course Expert English: leadership, management and technical English, taught in French, starts from a manager's real situations. Each module offers a model intervention to imitate, an audio role play, a quiz and a project reviewed by a trainer within 5 working days.
| Block | Modules | Deliverable in your portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| Culture and meetings | Cultural differences, international calls and meetings | Intercultural guide |
| Writing | Writing for a global audience | Report for a donor |
| Public speaking | Professional speeches | 5-minute speech on video |
| Management | Leading a team, feedback, conflict and persuasion | Management scripts, crisis protocol |
| Negotiation | Strategic negotiation and influence without authority | Negotiation plan |
| Specialism | Technical English for your sector, certifications | 400-term technical glossary |
It is the top of the Professional English track, after level 4, Business English. The full track brings the five levels together for 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 (534 EUR instead of 686). The course prepares the official test of your choice, to be taken afterwards at an approved centre: it does not itself award an official certification.
What English is worth at manager level, 2026 order of magnitude
| Profile in Abidjan or Dakar | Indicative pay | Role of English |
|---|---|---|
| French-speaking project lead, local SME | 600,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA (915 to 1,525 EUR) per month | Rarely required |
| Bilingual project lead, multinational | 800,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA (1,220 to 2,285 EUR) per month | Meetings and reporting in English |
| Bilingual manager, NGO or international organisation | 1,200,000 to 2,500,000 FCFA (1,830 to 3,810 EUR) per month | Entry requirement |
| Senior engineer on regional assignment | Travel allowances in English-speaking countries | Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya |
| Senior bilingual consultant | 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA (229 to 610 EUR) per day | Regional assignments |
These ranges depend on the sector, experience and employer. No job or 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.
Yao, 34, a civil engineer and project lead at a construction company in Abidjan, earns 900,000 FCFA (1,372 EUR) a month. His group has just signed a project funded by an English-speaking donor, with weekly meetings in English. He completes the 57 hours in four months, at about 3.5 hours a week. The same volume of coaching would have cost him at least 1,425,000 FCFA at 25,000 FCFA per hour, against 200,000 FCFA here. If he gets the bilingual project manager role with a 20% raise, or 180,000 FCFA (274 EUR) a month, the course is paid back in just over a month. Indicative scenario; the raise is not guaranteed.
FAQ
What level do I need to start?
A B2 level: you follow a meeting and write emails, but without ease. Below that, level 4 Business English or the full track at 350,000 FCFA (534 EUR) is a better fit.
How much time per week for a busy manager?
The 57 hours are completed in 4 months at 3 to 4 hours a week. Audio lessons can be played in the car or between meetings.
Does the technical English cover my sector?
Module 9 has you build your own 400-term glossary, construction, energy, finance, health or digital, from your real documents.
Does the course give a TOEIC or IELTS?
No. It prepares the test of your choice, which you then take at an approved centre for about 100,000 to 170,000 FCFA (152 to 259 EUR) depending on the exam.
Can my employer pay?
Yes, the 200,000 FCFA (305 EUR) fee is paid by Wave or Orange Money, in the name of the individual or the company.
Take the next step. Enroll in Expert English: leadership, management and technical English: 57 hours, 200,000 FCFA (305 EUR), 10 reviewed projects and a verifiable certificate, taught in French. 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.
