Complete guide

How to find software developers in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa
February 22, 2023
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Addis Ababa is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It is situated in the foothills of the Entoto Mountains and is home to a population of over 3.4 million people. Addis Ababa is a major political, economic, and cultural hub for the country, and is home to many embassies and international organizations. The city is also known for its beautiful churches, museums, monuments, and markets. Overall, Addis Ababa is the vibrant and bustling heart of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Addis Ababa are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Addis Ababa you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Addis Ababa, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Addis Ababa is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is a tech hub in Africa, with a growing number of tech start-ups and established companies. The city is home to a large pool of highly skilled tech talent, which is increasing rapidly. According to a survey conducted in 2018, the city’s tech talent pool is estimated to be around 20,000, 80% of which are software developers. Furthermore, the survey revealed that the majority of the tech talent in Addis Ababa are young professionals, with the average age of tech professionals being just 28 years old. Additionally, the city has a highly educated tech workforce, with over 70% of tech professionals having a higher education degree. This indicates that Addis Ababa is an attractive destination for tech professionals, and that tech companies in the city are likely to find the talent they need.

The tech ecosystem in Addis Ababa

The tech ecosystem in Addis Ababa is growing rapidly. In recent years, the city has emerged as an important hub for technology and innovation in Africa. Addis Ababa is home to a variety of tech startups and businesses as well as a range of incubators and accelerators. There is also a vibrant startup community, with events such as Startup Grind Addis and the Addis Ababa Tech Summit providing networking opportunities for entrepreneurs. Additionally, the city is home to multiple venture capital firms and angel investors who are investing in the region. The city is also an important center for research and development, with the likes of the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, the Institute of Technology, and the Ethiopian Institute of Technology offering cutting-edge research in the tech sector.

Best tech meetups in Addis Ababa

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. Addis Ababa Technology Meetup
2. Addis Ababa Blockchain Meetup
3. Addis Ababa DevOps Meetup
4. Addis Ababa Data Science Meetup
5. Addis Ababa Artificial Intelligence Meetup
6. Addis Ababa Mobile Development Meetup
7. Addis Ababa Cloud Computing Meetup
8. Addis Ababa Software Security Meetup
9. Addis Ababa UX/UI Meetup
10. Addis Ababa Robotics Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Addis Ababa

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Use online job boards like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor to post job ads and search for suitable candidates.

2. Utilize your network of contacts—friends, family, and colleagues—to spread the word about job openings.

3. Attend job fairs and local events that focus on software development and technology.

4. Utilize local universities and technical schools to find recent graduates.

5. Partner with recruitment agencies and staffing companies to access a large pool of qualified candidates.

6. Consider remote workers who may have the skills and expertise needed but are located outside of Addis Ababa.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Addis Ababa is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Addis Ababa

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. Jobberman Ethiopia
2. Ethiojobs.net
3. LinkedIn
4. Glassdoor
5. Indeed
6. Facebook
7. CareerJet
8. Jobzella
9. BrighterMonday Ethiopia
10. Jobin.io

Best remote job boards to find developers in Addis Ababa

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. Upwork
2. Freelancer
3. LinkedIn
4. Glassdoor
5. Fiverr
6. Guru
7. WeWorkRemotely
8. Remote.co
9. FlexJobs
10. Remotive.io

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Addis Ababa

The average salary for a junior developer in Addis Ababa is around 1,231 Birr per month. This is equivalent to about $35 USD per month. Junior developers are typically responsible for coding, debugging, and testing applications. They may also help with the design of web and mobile applications, depending on the company. Additionally, they are expected to help maintain existing software and provide technical support when needed.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Addis Ababa

The average salary for a senior developer in Addis Ababa is around 4,000-6,000 Birr per month. This is equivalent to approximately $100-$150 per month. The salary can vary depending on the experience and skillset of the developer, as well as the company they are working for. Generally speaking, most senior developers in Addis Ababa will have at least 5 years of experience in software development and will have a strong understanding of various coding languages, databases, and other development tools. They will also have experience in project management and be comfortable working in a team environment.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Addis Ababa. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Addis Ababa. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Addis Ababa.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party company that acts as a legal employer for another company. By using an EOR, a company can outsource their payroll, tax, and HR responsibilities to the EOR, allowing them to focus on their core business activities.

Using an EOR in Addis Ababa is very popular due to the lack of infrastructure for payroll and HR. An EOR can provide a cost-effective solution for businesses that need to hire employees in Ethiopia.

When using an EOR in Ethiopia, it is important to ensure that the EOR is compliant with local laws and regulations. This includes understanding the local labor laws, taxation requirements, and social security regulations. Additionally, the EOR should have a good understanding of the local culture and the language in order to ensure a smooth transition.

Once an EOR has been selected, the company should provide the EOR with all the necessary information to carry out their duties. This includes the company’s payroll information, job descriptions, and any additional documentation that may be required. The EOR will then be responsible for managing the payroll, filing taxes, and managing the company’s employee benefits.

Using an EOR in Ethiopia can help to streamline the hiring process and reduce the administrative burden for companies. Additionally, it can help to ensure that the company is compliant with local laws and regulations.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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