Candidate info

A researcher and university lecturer since 1982, Aimé’s work focused on how to help local communities improve their food production while preserving the landscape that they depend on. In 1999 he helped identify a new doctoral programme that focused on sustainable management of natural resources; this was a change from previous programmes that were very scientific in nature but failed to consider some important socioeconomic and environmental factors. Aimé started collaborating with IUCN in 1994 through a volunteer group that helped the Burkina Faso office draft or finalize a number of strategy or programme documents. He joined IUCN as the Burkina Faso country representative in 2000; he was appointed Regional Director for Central & West Africa (PACO) in 2008. During these years he traveled to various IUCN regions, met with Members in almost all 24 Central and West African countries, helped to promote Conservation & Development programs and, to mobilize funding. Aimé has worked with a large number of donors, including The World Bank, the European Union, the African Development Bank, Sweden, Denmark, France and several African Government and contributed to secure funding for different institutions (IUCN, the university and research center that employed him, Governments, NGOs, local communities, etc.). He also managed to mobilize specialists from almost all IUCN commissions for programme and project work; these include WCPA, CEESP, CEC, SSC and CEL. In 2017 he left IUCN Secretariat, going back to teaching and advising several institutions, including Government officials, NGOs, farmer groups and young scientists.