Country Director

Valantine Achancho

As a Country Programme Manager, Valantine Achancho is responsible for managing assigned country portfolios, the IFAD country office (Niger) and staff under his supervision both in-country and HQ-based. He catalyses partnerships with stakeholders and enhances coordinated strategies with government, multilateral/bilateral donors and civil-society organizations involved in agricultural/rural development.

Before joining the Fund in 2011, Achancho served as Deputy Director in charge of farmers professional organizations and cooperative movement, and also research engineer for prospective analysis and agricultural policies in the Ministry of Agriculture in Cameroon.

His earlier positions include national coordinator for AFD funded project, visiting lecturer at the Faculty of agronomy of the University of Dschang in Cameroon, consultant for IFAD, the Work Bank and EU operations.

Achancho holds a PhD in Sociology for Development from Paris Institute of Technology for Life, Food and Environmental Sciences (AgroParisTech, France), a Masters degree in tropical and subtropical Agronomy from CNEARC, Montpellier, France and a Masters degree in agricultural economics (Ingénieur Agro-économiste) from the University of Dschang, Cameroon.