AfriCatalyst

Our Team

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Our People

The future is in your hands. Our talented, diverse, multiethnic and multinational team comes from all corners of Africa.

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Daouda Sembene

Managing Partner

Daouda is the CEO of AfriCatalyst, a global development advisory based in Dakar, Senegal. He is affiliated with the Washington-based Center for Global Development (CGD) and the Accra-based African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) as a Distinguished Non-resident Fellow. 

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Ibrahima Sar

Senior Advisor

Mr. Ibrahima Sar is Principal Inspector of the Treasury, he graduated in Development Economics from the Centre for Studies and Research on International Development (CERDI).

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Fenohasina Rakotondrazaka Maret

Senior Advisor

Fenohasina Rakotondrazaka Maret is a development economist with more than 12 years of experience. She was recently an economist at the Office of the President of the Republic of Madagascar and a senior research associate in the Urban Institute’s Center on International Development and Governance where she oversaw a public sector system strengthening project in Tanzania.

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Boris Houenou

Senior Advisor

Dr. Boris Houenou is a highly accomplished senior economist with over 14 years of professional experience in strategy development, advising, research, policy advocacy, leadership, and operational delivery across a wide range of areas.

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Mr. Mahamadi GABA

Advisor

Enthusiastic and passionate about the crucial issues of our time, Mahamadi GABA holds a Master's degree in Applied Economics with a specialization in natural resource and environmental economics from the Inter-University Third Cycle Program (PTCI).

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Saturnin Toudonou

Internal Controller

Holder of a Master in Audit and Management Control, Saturnin is a young and ambitious Beninese with experience in his field. He works in the positions of Accounting and Financial Manager, Administrative Manager, Accounting and Financial Manager, Chief Accountant whereby he ensures the administrative, financial and accounting management.

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Sarah Adjel

Business Development and Stakeholder Engagement Manager.

Sarah is an expert in economic diplomacy, business development, and institutional relations, with over a decade of international experience. She holds a PhD in Contemporary History and International Relations, with a focus on the political economy of oil and gas, particularly in Africa and the MENA region.

 

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Fary Ba

People and Culture Manager

Fary is a specialist in strategic human resource management, with solid experience
gained in multicultural environments in both Canada and Senegal. She holds a Master’s
degree in Human Resource Management from HEC Montréal and a Bachelor's degree
in International Development and Globalization from the University of Ottawa, Canada.
She has successfully led high-impact assignments for public institutions, international
organizations, and private companies. Fary is recognized for her professionalism, rigor,
and collaborative leadership, which she leverages to support organizations in designing
and implementing innovative HR practices that align with their strategic priorities.

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Ali Mansoor

Senior Advisor

Ali served as the Financial Secretary in Mauritius from 2006 to 2013, where he formulated and implemented a wide-ranging reform program. He was the first African Chair of the Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD) in 2012.

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Paolo Zacchia

Senior Advisor

Paolo Zacchia is a development economist with more than two decades of experience in economic policy, applied economic research, and policy dialogue.

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Bernard Mogaka Kinara

Senior Advisor

Bernard Mogaka Kinara is an accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience in various fields, particularly in the digital finance sector. Early in his career, Bernard worked as a marketing specialist for several major brands such as UPS Europe N.V and InterSwitch East Africa Ltd.

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Kelvin Dalrymple

Senior Advisor

Kelvin Dalrymple is a development macroeconomist, and risk management professional. He is experienced in credit rating analysis, strategy, geopolitics, emerging markets, small states, and political economy. He has global experience having served on the executive boards of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, as well as regional public sector and institutional coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean, the USA, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and United Kingdom.

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Steve Williams MBOLLO

Advisor

Steve is an experienced Senior Data Analyst and Statistician with an exceptional track record in data management and analytics. With proven expertise in working with various organizations, Steve has successfully contributed to critical projects and provided valuable insights to inform decision-making processes.

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Yacine Ba

Senior Finance Manager

Ndeye Yacine Ba is a  seasoned Certified Public Accountant (CPA) skilled in optimizing financial and treasury processes. Specializing in finance transformation, she has guided clients through assessment, design, and implementation, focusing on process improvements, regulatory compliance, and system integration. She has formerly worked as a former Senior Manager at EY,  served as Board Treasurer at INICI, leading the audit and finance committee. Yacine holds a CPA designation from Quebec and a Graduate Diploma from HEC Montreal.

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Bineta Pouye

Operations Manager

Bineta holds a Bachelor's degree in Applied Foreign Languages ​​and a Master's degree in Intercultural Management, Communications and Events Planning from the Catholic University of Lyon.

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Ibrahima Aidara

Senior Advisor

A visionary Program Management Leader with over two decades of experience in economic governance, policy analysis, and international development. Ibrahima is passionate about advancing inclusive, sustainable growth, social justice, and accountability. He is adept at managing multi-disciplinary teams, designing results-based frameworks, and leveraging market based solutions to tackle complex development challenges.
Recognized for leading transformative reforms and fostering institutional partnerships across West Africa and beyond, he holds a PhD in Economics and is fluent in West African languages, English, and French.

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Thiaba Camara Sy

Senior Advisor

Throughout a 33-year long career in the fields of auditing, accounting and management consulting, Thiaba has served numerous public institutions and private companies in virtually all sectors of the West African economy allowing her to develop a solid international professional network.

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Daniel Citrin

Senior Advisor

As a strategic leader, Daniel guided strategic policy operations in the IMF for over 25 years. Strategic projects include leading reforms to the process of formulating and monitoring IMF operational budget, advising the Managing Director on the IMF’s rapid response to the European crisis, and co-chairing the comprehensive review of IMF’s compensation and benefits framework.

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Jean-Claude Tchatchouang

Senior Advisor

Jean-Claude Tchatchouang is an accomplished economist and financial expert with vast experience in international finance and development. Jean-Claude received his Master's degree in Finance and International Economics from Brandeis University in the United States in 1998.

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Jennifer Baidoo

Senior Advisor

Jennifer Baidoo is a development expert who draws on her blended expertise in strategy, design, governance, change and sustainable development to embed sustainable practices. She has contributed to the reformation of the national industrial strategy and renewable energy policy in the UK and uses her positions as non-executive director on boards to advocate for social inclusivity and eco consciousness.

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Marieme DIOP 

Chief Operating Officer

Marieme brings over a decade of expertise in leadership, talent strategy, and human capital development, driving innovative solutions for sustainable progress across Africa. She is the founder of Kalimar Consulting, where she empowers executives and business owners through coaching, team building, and strategic consulting.

Marieme holds an MBA from Mercer University and a BA in Economics from Spelman College.

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Nicolas Kodzo Sounou

Accountant

Nicolas is a dedicated accounting professional with extensive experience in financial management and compliance. He joined AfriCatalyst as an Accountant, bringing his expertise in financial reporting, tax management, bank reconciliations, and inventory control to the organization. He holds a Masters degree in Accounting, Control, and Audit from the African Institute of Management (IAM Business School) in Dakar and a Bachelor's degree in Accounting-Finance from the University of Lomé, Togo. Nicolas has also completed specialized training in financial markets and advanced Excel for business applications.
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Boileau Loko

Senior Advisor

Boileau Loko is a seasoned macroeconomist with 25 years of experience at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including 15 years in management positions. He was in the senior management team of the Strategic and Policy Review Department, overseeing macroeconomic policy recommendations for a broad range of advanced and emerging economies both in program and surveillance contexts. Boileau Loko also played a major role in enhancing and operationalizing policies that help member countries improve debt sustainability, governance, and inclusion, including in Fragile and Conflict-affected States. Prior to this, He held various positions within the Fund as Division Chief, Mission Chief, Advisor, and Resident Representative leading high level policy dialogue and advising high-ranking officials on macro and fiscal policies, public finance and debt management. Boileau Loko has published extensively on various topics, including debt, fintech, productivity, and macro implications of natural disasters. He holds a Ph.D. in Macroeconomics & Economic Modeling and a Postgraduate Specialized Studies Diploma (DESS) in Project Analysis from the Center for Studies and Research on International Development (CERDI, France).

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Cheikh Anta Gueye

Senior Advisor

Cheikh Anta Gueye is a seasoned economist and capital markets expert with over two decades of
experience in macroeconomic policy, financial systems development, and international finance.
He has served in senior leadership roles at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), most recently
as Deputy Division Chief and Mission Chief to Estonia and Belarus, where he led structural
reform efforts and financial policy dialogues. He previously served as Mission Chief to Niger,
significantly advancing the country’s access to capital markets and earning national recognition
for his contributions.
Prior to joining the IMF, he held key positions at the Central Bank of West African States
(BCEAO) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Senegal. Cheikh has advised numerous
governments on economic reforms, public finance management, and capital market
development. He is widely published on issues related to sovereign debt, oil economies, and
financial architecture reform in Africa.
He holds an MBA from Southern Illinois University, an MPA in Public Finance from Senegal’s
National School of Administration, and a degree in Macroeconomics from the University Cheikh
Anta Diop.

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Fabrice Ndjodo

Senior Advisor

Fabrice Ndjodo is the founder and Managing Partner of Afrotopia Capital (www.afrotopia.co), an investment firm that partners exclusively with family-owned businesses and operates in West and Central Africa.

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Francis Dogo

Senior Advisor

Francis Dogo is a seasoned international development specialist who, until recently, was serving as an Adviser to the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank. The Bank is the primary multilateral development financial institution in Africa, with members in 54 African and 26 non-African countries and operations of about 10 billion USD per annum.

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Amani Mustafa Mhinda

Bureau Chief, Nairobi

Mr. Amani Mustafa Mhinda is an experienced legal, development and political economy expert with over 24 years’ experience in non-profit, academic and development fields. Extensive academic journey from Universities of Cairo (LLB, BA Africa studies) and Nairobi (LLM) and other post graduate qualifications from Ghana, Australia, South Africa and Norway.

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Djeynaba Ba

Advisor

Passionate about the intersection of international studies, business, and social development, Djeynaba Ba holds a bachelor's degree from the Ohio State University.

With nearly five years of impactful work in the nonprofit sector, she dedicated herself to assisting refugees and immigrants in achieving self-sufficiency.

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Yacine Ndiaye

Project Manager

Yacine was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal however her studies allowed her to experience other places. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of North Texas in the United States.

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Fifi Esther

Operations and Projects Officer

Fifi Esther is a dedicated professional with a passion for organization and coordination, currently transitioning from an administrative role to project management

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Fabio Cresto

Expert

Fabio is a climate adaptation specialist with expertise in climate policy, finance, and the development of science-based climate adaptation strategies. He brings nearly a decade of experience as a climate scientist, complemented by over five years of hands-on experience in climate policy and finance. Fabio has supported international cooperation agencies, United Nations organizations, local and international NGOs, and governments across Latin America and globally. His work focuses on designing national and regional climate policies and long-term adaptation strategies to strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity of communities and ecosystems worldwide.

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Abdoulaye Seck

Senior Advisor

A seasoned development economist with over 33 years of global experience across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. He holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Statistics from ENSAE Paris, with executive training from Harvard and Cambridge. He has served in senior roles at the World Bank, JICA, and OECD, leading high-impact programs in diverse contexts—from fragile states to emerging economies. Abdoulaye is recognized for his strategic vision, analytical rigor, and collaborative leadership in driving inclusive, sustainable development.