SODLA 2026 is a benchmark study of data literacy and organisational readiness across Africa — revealing the gap between how valuable people believe data is, and how prepared the workforce is to use it confidently in real business decisions.
People across Africa recognise data's value and feel confident in their skills. The assessment tells a different story. This is not a motivation problem — it is a measurement problem.
SODLA maps every assessed professional to one of four capability personas — each describing a fundamentally different relationship with data, and a fundamentally different development need.
Benchmark your team against the SODLA 2026 persona distribution and identify the practical capability gaps to close first.
The individual assessment is free and takes 10 minutes. You'll get your persona result, a capability profile and a personalised development path — immediately. No sign-up needed.
This isn't dishonesty. It's human. The problem is that most organisations make training, hiring and AI-readiness decisions based on this perception — not on measurement.
The confidence gap is widest at the base — exactly where development is most needed.
At Foundation level, active involvement is just 1.1%. The gap is participation, not potential.
Your AI strategy, BI investment and data governance all depend on people the data says are not yet ready.
"Technology alone does not create data-driven organisations. People do."Jordan Morrow · Global data literacy author and thought leader
The organisational assessment maps your entire team to the SODLA persona model — giving you a capability baseline, a gap analysis against the African benchmark, and clear development priorities.
One of the Nekst team will follow up within 24 hours.
The organisations that shift capability fastest don't start with training. They start with measurement.
Baseline your team against the SODLA persona model. Understand the real capability distribution — not the perceived one.
Build targeted programmes by persona pathway. Capability changes behaviour — generic training does not.
Re-assess post-programme. Show leadership a measurable capability change — not just training completions.
Whether you want to read the research, take the personal assessment, benchmark your team, or have a conversation — start where you are today.
"Technology alone does not create data-driven organisations. People do."Jordan Morrow · Global data literacy author and thought leader