Africa has a skills gap. Across every major market, employers are competing for a pool of skilled talent that isn't growing fast enough to meet demand. The companies winning this competition aren't just paying more — they're investing in their people's growth in ways that create genuine career trajectories. A funded learning and development benefit is one of the most effective ways to do this.
Why employees value L&D more than many employers realise
Learning benefits score consistently high in African employee surveys — often higher than gym passes or lifestyle credits. The reason is simple: African professionals are highly qualification-conscious. A Coursera certificate, a LinkedIn Learning badge, or a Udemy course completion isn't just a personal development milestone — it's a career asset that travels with them regardless of where they work.
This means an L&D benefit has unusual retention properties. Employees who feel their employer is investing in their career development are significantly less likely to leave — because they see a future, not just a present paycheck.
Platform options and what they offer
- Coursera: 7,000+ courses from top universities (Yale, Duke, Imperial College, University of Cape Town). Industry-recognised certificates. Particularly valued in South Africa and Nigeria.
- Udemy: 210,000+ courses on any topic. Lifetime access to purchased courses. Arabic-language content available for Egypt and Morocco. Best for technical skills.
- LinkedIn Learning: 21,000+ courses. Certificates appear on LinkedIn profile automatically. Strong for business, leadership, and soft skills.
South Africa: B-BBEE skills development alignment
For South African employers, L&D spend has an additional strategic dimension: B-BBEE Skills Development scoring. Employer contributions to employee learning and development count toward the Skills Development element of the B-BBEE scorecard. Structured L&D benefits through RibiBenefits can be reported as qualifying skills development spend, with appropriate documentation.
See how RibiBenefits delivers L&D benefits across Africa
Explore Learning & Development →How to set the right allowance level
Coursera Plus costs approximately $59/month (around KES 7,700, NGN 90,000, EGP 2,900, or ZAR 1,100). A monthly or quarterly allowance that covers one platform subscription is the most common starting point. More generous packages allow employees to access multiple platforms or accumulate credit for longer courses and certifications.
- Starter: One platform subscription per month — covers daily learning and certificate courses.
- Growth: Multi-platform access — employees choose where to focus each quarter.
- Premium: Full access to all three platforms plus a dedicated learning fund for external courses or conferences.
