Center Directors General

Papa Abdoulaye Seck has been director general of the Africa Rice Center since October 2006. He has wide experience in agricultural research and development planning, implementation, evaluation, and management. He is particularly noted for his in-depth knowledge of the needs and aspirations of national agricultural research and development agencies in sub-Saharan Africa.

Before joining the Africa Rice Center, Papa Abdoulaye Seck was director general of the Senegal Agricultural Research Institute and an advisor to the Prime Minister of Senegal. Since 2003, he has been a member of the Academy of Science and Technology of Senegal. He was the chair of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa from 2003 to 2005. Papa Abdoulaye Seck is a member of the executive committee of the West and Central African Council for Research and Development, and the Global Forum on Agricultural Research. He was a member of the West Africa Rice Development Association board of trustees.

Papa Abdoulaye Seck has a doctorate in policy and analysis relating to agricultural economics from the Université de Dijon, France. 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.