Dakar - Post Report Question and Answers
What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
NGOs, teleworking for firms back home, teaching at international schools, journalists. - Oct 2024
The US embassy has a lot of job opportunities. Again, Dakar is a hub so there is also a robust international org and NGO community here. You can easily telework because the internet is fast and cheap. - Apr 2022
There seem to be a lot of opportunities in the U.S. Embassy and the local market. A friend’s cousin came and stayed during her break from university in France, and managed to find a paid local internship. - Jul 2020
The Embassy is committed to hiring spouses and a lot of EFM jobs are available. There are many DETO telework spouses currently. For jobs on the economy, you definitely need French. Local salaries are lower than in the US or Europe. - Dec 2019
Teachers, nurses, contractors. EFM jobs at embassy. - Dec 2018
You can work at the embassy or home business. - Dec 2018
There are a number of good jobs, but without fluent professional-level French, you won't get your foot in the door. one of the biggest EFM frustrations, actually. - Apr 2016
I hear some EFMs have trouble finding positions in the Embassy. USAID has a huge presence and they don't have EFM jobs. Yet spouses of USAID employees do compete for EFM jobs. I'd guess there are disproportionately fewer EFM spots in Dakar compared to a similar sized embassy elsewhere. Spouse might get hired by NGOs if the person speaks French. That's about it. - Aug 2015
There were some spouses that tele-commuted for various NGOs and US based companies. I think you have to have approval from the Embassy to work on the local market though. - Aug 2014
Again, some. It depends on your skills and what you're willing to accept as salary. If you want a U.S. or European type of salary, you either have to work for a large hotel or commercial business, or an aid agency/NGO. - Apr 2014
Yes, if you are fluent in French and have experience in foreign aid. Otherwise you will be limited to EFM opportunities at the embassy -- which are actually pretty plentiful. - Jun 2013
They seem to come and go in waves. It's much easier if you speak French. If you don't, you'll mostly be looking at jobs at the U.S. Embassy --- and those can be hit or miss. - Mar 2013
Not on the local economy. Maybe with the U.S. Embassy. If you are a U.S. EFM, you should have an easy time getting an Embassy job. - Oct 2012
Possibly, if you speak French. Lots of NGO's. - Mar 2012
If you are a teacher, then you will have options available to you. - Aug 2011
no. - Jan 2011
None. Jobs exists for expats but few and very poorly paid. - Jan 2010
No. - May 2009
