Brief Biography of the Director General

Dr Papa Abdoulaye Seck has wide-ranging experience in agricultural R&D planning, implementation, evaluation and management and is particularly noted for his in-depth knowledge of the needs and aspirations of the national agricultural R&D systems in sub-Saharan Africa.

Before joining the Africa Rice Center (WARDA), Dr Seck was the Director General of the Senegal Agricultural Research Institute (ISRA) and Advisor to the Prime Minister of Senegal. Since 2003, he has been a member of the Academy of Science and Technology of Senegal.

Dr Seck was the Chair of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) from 2003 to 2005. He is a member of Executive Committee of the West and Central African Council for Research and Development (WECARD/CORAF) and of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR).

Dr Seck has strong connections with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), having been a member of its Executive Committee. Until recently, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of WARDA.

He earned his PhD in policy and analysis relating to agricultural economics from the Université de Dijon in 1989.

In 2005, he was conferred with the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Lion by the Government of Senegal for his services to the country.