Mr. Abdoul Aziz Diouf is currently researcher and coordinator of the Research and Development Program at the Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE) in Dakar (Senegal). He holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences and Management from the University of Liege (Belgium) and has a decade of experience in the use of earth observation data for the monitoring and management of natural resources and environment. Dr. Diouf has authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals and has been a co-supervisor of several Masters and PhD theses. He was a Chapter Scientist in Chapter 5 (Food Security) of the Special Report on Climate Change and the Earth being prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Spatial expert in the GDZHIAO project, Mr. Diouf is also a Work-package Coordinator in several research projects such as "Carbon Sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions in (agro) Sylvopastoral Ecosystems in the sahelian CILSS States - CASSEECS" and "Synergistic use and protection of natural resources for rural livelihoods through systematic integration of crops, shrubs and livestock in the Sahel - SustainSahel".
Ms. Vivianne Meta, is the Director of Business and Technical Services at Locate-IT Limited, a Space and Geomatics company based in Nairobi, Kenya. She has vast experience in the use and application of Geographic Information Systems, Earth Observation, Surveying and GIT technologies. A Geomatics Engineering graduate, Ms. Meta is involved in managing and coordinating the execution of Locate-IT’s geospatial projects including those entailing policy formulation, implementation, development, monitoring & evaluation. She is also involved in business development and as the project manager, plays an instrumental role in the implementation of flagship projects developed, conceptualised and implemented by Locate-IT. She also serves as the national representative (PoC) for Kenya for the African Aeronautics and Space Organisation (AASO). Vivianne is also a member of the African Leadership Conference (ALC) on Space Science (Youth Forum) – a body concerned with promoting enabling environments for the advancements of the Space industry in Africa. Ms. Meta was in 2019 listed among the Top 10 under 30 Space professionals in Africa disrupting the space ecosystem while creating a global impact. Beyond just being a professional in the industry, Vivianne is extremely passionate about space science and attributes her motivation to the satisfaction gained from seeing communities in Africa getting transformed through the work she does, most importantly, the application of geo technologies for sustainable development initiatives. She is passionate about mentorship for youth and women, and would do just about anything to steer this space revolution globally and influence the next the generation of space scientists, enthusiasts and geo-savvy community.
Dr. Tidiane Ouattara received a master’s degree in physical geography from Université de Cocody-Abidjan (Côte-d’Ivoire). In 1996, Dr. Ouattara obtained a master’s degree and in 2001 a PhD, both in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) from Sherbrooke University (Canada). Dr. Ouattara is currently Space Science Expert and Coordinator for GMES & Africa Programme. He has gained tremendous experience in international relations and business development, research and development (R&D), strategic policy development and program management issues related to environment, natural resources, and sciences and technology. Indeed Dr. Ouattara began his career in Canada as lecturer at Sherbrooke University from 1996 to 2001. He taught not only scientific courses, but also African geopolitics and sociocultural issues. After a brief stay with the private sector in Montreal, in 2002 Dr. Ouattara started working with the federal government of Canada. He successively occupied various positions
Abdoulaye Mohamadou est le Secrétaire Exécutif (SE) du Comité permanent inter-Etats de lutte contre la sécheresse dans le Sahel (CILSS). Créé en 1973 le CILSS regroupe les pays tels que le Bénin, le Burkina Faso, le Cap Vert, la Côte d’Ivoire, la Gambie, la Guinée, la Guinée-Bissau, le Mali, la Mauritanie, le Niger, le Sénégal, le Tchad et le Togo. Le Centre régional Agrhymet de Niamey est l’une de ses institutions spécialisées.
Il a été élu au poste de SE à l’issue de la 19ème conférence des chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement du CILSS tenue le 20 juillet 2020.
Abdoulaye Mohamadou est enseignant-chercheur à la Faculté d'Agronomie de l’université Abdou Moumouni de Niamey. C’est un socio-anthropologue qui officie également au sein du Laboratoire d’études et de recherches sur les dynamiques sociales et le développement local (LASDEL) de Niamey.
Ingénieur agronome et spécialiste en Télédétection et en Systèmes d’Information Géographique, il avait commencé sa carrière professionnelle, en 1995, au Centre National de Télédétection de Tunisie avant d’intégrer le Ministère de l’Environnement. Il a rejoint l’Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel (OSS) en 2003, d’abord en tant qu’expert en Gestion durable des ressources naturelles et responsable Suivi-Evaluation, puis en tant que Coordinateur du Programme Environnement, fonction qu’il occupe depuis 2008. En novembre 2020, le Conseil d’Administration de l’OSS, le désigne en qualité de Secrétaire Exécutif. Son expérience professionnelle de plus de 27 ans couvre les domaines de la gestion durable des ressources naturelles, de l’élaboration d’outils d’observation et de suivi environnemental ainsi que du développement de programmes d’atténuation et d’adaptation au changement climatique.
