The speakers of the Africa Days 2024
Pierre Thiam, Chef, Activist and Vice-President of SOS SAHEL USA
Pierre Thiam is a chef, author, and social activist best known for bringing West African cuisine to the global fine dining world. He is the Executive Chef of the award-winning restaurant Nok by Alara in Lagos, Nigeria and the Signature Chef of the 5-star Pullman Hotel in Dakar, Senegal. He is also the executive chef and co-owner of Teranga, a fast-casual food chain from New York City. His company Yolélé Foods advocates for smallholder farmers in the Sahel by opening new markets for crops grown in Africa; its signature product, Yolele Fonio, is found in Whole Foods, Amazon, and other retailers across America. Born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, Thiam’s cooking style is at once modern and eclectic, rooted in the rich culinary traditions of West Africa.
Thiam sits on the board of directors of IDEO.org and SOS SAHEL.
Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Zoë is a core member of BCG’s Social Impact practice focused on food systems and agriculture. She has extensive experience working with organizations across the African continent on both strategic and operational topics. Her expertise lies in large transformations, particularly orchestrating holistic change programs, and implementing mechanisms to sustain results over time. She holds an MBA from the Wharton School, is a TED Speaker and a fellow of the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Programme.
Amath Pathé Sene, Managing Director of Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF)
Pathé is an Agricultural Engineer by training and Climate and Environment Expert. He has over 18 years’ experience in the field of agriculture, green finance & agri value chains development, environment, climate change and sustainable natural resource management, food systems and nutrition security, rural development and poverty reduction; rural infrastructure development; safeguards and de-risking public and private sector investments in sustainable agriculture. In his professional career, he has occupied various technical, managerial and leadership role both at local, country, regional and global level, working across four regions in the World (Africa, South America, Central Asia and Europe).
Dr Leena Koni Hoffmann, Associate Fellow, Africa Programme Chatham House, Board member of SOS SAHEL USA
Dr. Hoffmann is an Associate fellow of the Africa Programme at Chatham House and leads the Programme’s Social Norms and Accountable Governance (SNAG) Project. Leena is also the scientific lead for the Citizen and Security Relations in West Africa Research Programme. She is the Board Director for SOS SAHEL USA and a Member of Transparency International’s Advisory Council as well as an Honorary Senior Fellow of the Global Evergreening Alliance. Leena works on governance, security, food security and regional trade issues in West Africa. From 2016-20, she was a technical adviser to the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel.
Paul Newnham, CEO, SDG2 Advocacy Hub, Coordinator Chefs’ Manifesto
Paul is a strategic innovator and executive leader with 25 + years of expertise managing complex stakeholder relationships, designing campaign strategies, and extensive knowledge of the not-for-profit sector. He possesses strong business acumen, exceptional advocacy skills, and the ability to build deeply engaging relationships to influence decision makers, improve practices, drive change, and deliver impactful solutions to complex problems alongside communities around the world. Through the podcast ‘Future Fork’, Paul digs deep into the world of food and the decisions we can make today to create a brighter future for all with innovative thinkers in the food space. Paul Newnham founded the SDG2 Advocacy Hub in 2016, a secretariat convened to connect NGOs, advocacy groups, civil society, private sector, and United Nations agencies around Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.
Joséphine Kane, National Coordinator, NTFV Sénégal Agribusiness A4A
A business engineer and SME business expert, Joséphine has nearly 10 years of experience in strategic consulting and coaching for business leaders and startups. She has been involved in projects promoting entrepreneurship and private sector development. Her work also includes developing public and private partnerships to support entrepreneurs, organizing competitions, training sessions, forums, as well as supporting incubators
Baaba Maal, Singer and Guitarist, UN Godwill Ambassador, Founder of NANNK Movement
Baaba Maal is a world-renowned Senegalese singer and guitarist who has released albums since 1989, in a music career lauded across the world. His unique voice has featured on the sound track of the international blockbuster Black Panther. Since 2003, he has been committed to various development challenges in Africa, working with different UN organisations. His Senegalese home means he actively supports a new narrative for the Sahel: a region of opportunities, rich in traditional culture, where a Great Green Wall will power a transformation of the lives of millions of humanity’s most vulnerable people and create new green jobs, harnessing the Sahel’s abundant solar energy and creating a peaceful and prosperous future on land.
Fatoumata Niang Niox, Founder of ACCEENT, Consultant in Innovation, Education, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development
Leader and social change advocate, Fatoumata Niang Niox is the founder of ACCEENT, an organization that promotes collective support and aims to give each citizen their rightful place in contributing to the socioeconomic development of their communities. Fatoumata has expertise in supporting innovative projects, and her commitment to adopting sustainable practices is evident through her initiatives. She has implemented training programs for the youth in sustainable techniques and raised awareness about sustainable development and climate issues. For four years, she established and supported trainin
Jonathan Lewis, Senior Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Jonathan is a professional with extensive experience in international development and finance. He currently serves as a Senior Officer for the Agriculture Development Team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a role he has held since 2021. In this capacity, he plays a pivotal role in advancing agriculture development initiatives between partner in Africa, and the global South. Prior to his current position, Jonathan served as the Vice Director of COIDIC, an early-stage development finance fund, a subsidiary of the China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund).
Maïmouna Diop Ly, Nutritionist and Public Health Doctor, Noflaye Center, Founder of CYCAS
Maïmouna Diop Ly is a medical doctor with over 28 years of experience in public health, nutrition, and social protection. She has led health projects on neglected tropical diseases, HIV/AIDS, and child survival while addressing gender, environment, climate change, water, and sanitation. She has served in various roles, including Head of Health at the Senegalese Red Cross and Chief Health Officer at the African Development Bank. Currently, she is an entrepreneur, consultant, and founder of CYCAS, a startup producing complementary food from local products. Dr. Ly holds multiple advanced degrees and is a board member of TOSTAN and the Foundation for a Healthier Senegal. In 2023, she was awarded by the Senegalese Food and Nutrition Society for her contributions to public health in Africa.
Obai Khalifa, Deputy Director, Agricultural Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Obai Khalifa oversees the foundation’s agricultural development work in Africa. Obai joined the foundation in 2018, after more than 20 years in the private sector where he held several management positions at leading animal health companies. Before that he was a practicing veterinarian in Sudan. Originally from Sudan, Obai earned a degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Khartoum. He obtained an M.Sc. in veterinary epidemiology and animal health economics from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and an executive MBA from HEC Paris Business School in France.
Abdourahmane Diop, Co-founder and CEO of Haskè Ventures
Abdourahmane Diop is a distinguished professional with more than 15 years of experience across venture building, impact investing, strategy consulting, and financial auditing. His expertise spans due diligence, fund structuring, valuation, project management, financial modeling, and more. He is currently the Co-founder and CEO of Haskè Ventures, a key Venture Builder in Africa that has co-founded and invested in up to 10 ventures since its inception in 2022. Before his role at Haskè Ventures, Abdourahmane was a Senior Advisor at Dalberg Advisors and Senior Investment Manager at Sagana, focusing on structuring innovative investment for diverse sectors including health, infrastructure, and agriculture. Abdourahmane holds a Master’s in Finance, Commerce, and Administration, and a Bachelor’s in Finance and Accounting from Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique at the University Cheikh Anta Diop Dakar
Mathieu Dondain, CEO of Nexira
Mathieu Dondain is the CEO and Vice President of Nexira, a family-owned company based in Rouen, Normandy, founded in 1895. Nexira is the world leader in acacia gum and natural plant-based ingredients for food, health, and nutrition industries. Nexira has been partnering with SOS SAHEL for 15 years in Chad on the Acacia program. Aiming at supporting 30 000 acacia gum producers, the Acacia program third phase was launched in 2023 with ambitious objectives and impacts by 2030.
Pr. Dr. Ir. Enoch G. Achigan-Dako, Professor, of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Head and founder, Genetics, Biotechnology and Seed Science Unit (GBioS), Head, Department of Plant Science
Enoch G. Achigan-Dako is a prominent agronomist, renowned for his expertise in international agricultural research. As Head of the Department of Plant Science at the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, he oversees faculty management and spearheads initiatives to advance sustainable farming practices. With a track record of securing over $19.5 million USD for research and training, he has played a pivotal role in educating undergraduate students and mentoring entrepreneurs through scholarships and programs like the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Prof. Achigan-Dako’s research focuses on traditional vegetable improvement and seed systems management, aiming to develop resilient crop varieties for local markets. His leadership extends beyond academia, as he coordinates international projects and fosters collaboration across sub-Saharan Africa.
Raïssa Okoï, Senior Journalist, Forbes Afrique, OR Agency
Raïssa Okoï is a journalist with over 15 years’ experience in media, communication and events moderation. She has created, produced and presented several Culture, Business, News & Current Affairs shows broadcasted on various media outlets including BBC World News, BBC Afrique, VoxAfrica TV, M6/W9 or France Television. From cocoa in the Congo to Baobab trees in Senegal, cotton in Burkina Faso and raffia in Gabon, Raïssa’s reports reflect her passion for the inclusive economy and local consumption. Her passion for African success stories led her to write portraits for Forbes Afrique Magazine, including those of Mo Ibrahim, Noëlla Coursaris, Pascal Agboyibo… Over the years, Raïssa has developed a natural talent for hosting events. As a passionate public speaker, she loves to engage audiences during international conferences and corporate events. As a communication expert, Raissa Okoi has advised personalities and institutions willing to have more impact in the media, & change the game in Africa.
Rémi Hémeryck, Executive Director, SOS SAHEL
Rémi Hémeryck is an agricultural economist and the Executive Director of SOS SAHEL since 2002. Remi joined SOS SAHEL in 1997 as Technical Director. Throughout the 20 years that Rémi has been a part of the organization, he has contributed to SOS SAHEL’s evolution and development of its expertise, solidifying the organization as an international expert in food security, now working with more than 1,000 local partners throughout the entire Sahel region. From 2002 to 2007 Rémi served as Vice President of EURONAID, the first European network on food security. He was Councilor in charge of education at Neauphlette, France from 2000 to 2005. A native of France, Rémi grew up on his family’s dairy farm where he learned farming practices at a very young age. At 20 years old, he set off to learn about farming worldwide, studying in the Midwest of the United States, in Heilongjiang, China, and in the grassfields of northwest Cameroun.
Stephen Wood, Senior Scientist, Agriculture and Food Systems at the Nature Conservancy, Research Scientist at Yale
Stephen Wood is a Senior Scientist for Agriculture & Food Systems in the Provide Food and Water Sustainably team at The Nature Conservancy. Steve’s expertise is in soil science, agroecology, food systems, and climate change. Steve is the science lead for TNC’s Regenerative Foodscapes strategy where he works on developing new data for foodscapes planning and supporting monitoring, evaluation and learning of the portfolio of foodscapes. He also works on Natural Climate Solutions science in agriculture and grazing lands. His other projects include coordinating TNC’s work on agricultural methane and AgEvidence, a data platform showing the impact of conservation agriculture practices in the US Corn Belt and Kenya.
Banna Mbaye is an agronomist at the Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA), specializing in agroecology.
She also plays a key role as a member of the technical committee of DyTAES (Dynamique pour la Transition AgroEcologique au Sénégal).
Since starting at ISRA in 2012, Banna has focused her research on integrated soil fertility management. It was through contact with those working in the field that she became aware of the wealth of endogenous knowledge of producers, who have a perfect command of their environment and socio-cultural realities.
Since 2019, she has devoted herself to researching and promoting agroecological innovations, seeking to identify what she calls “silent” agroecology. Through forward-looking and inclusive approaches, Banna supports stakeholders in thinking about scaling up their agroecological practices, considering social, technical, environmental, political and value dimensions.
Passionate about participatory approach tools, Banna Mbaye is committed to valorizing and disseminating local knowledge, thus contributing to sustainable and resilient agriculture in Senegal.