IFDC is pleased to announce the appointment of Alain Sy Traoré as the new Program Director of Soil Values, a 10-year program funded by the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS). Traoré’s transition to the role will take effect November 1, 2025.
Traoré’s extensive experience and recognized expertise make him a significant asset to the Soil Values team.
With over 20 years of experience in agricultural development, policy coordination, and regional integration in West Africa, Traoré brings invaluable expertise to this mission.
Previously, Traoré served as the Director of Agriculture and Rural Development at the ECOWAS Commission, a position he had held since 2013. He joined the institution in 2008 as Head of Division Agribusiness and Value Chains Development.
Traoré was instrumental in coordinating the implementation of the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) and mobilizing support from technical and financial partners to strengthen regional food security and agricultural resilience.
Traoré’s extensive experience and recognized expertise make him a significant asset to the Soil Values team. His appointment comes at a crucial time for Soil Values, as the program advances its mission to promote sustainable soil management and resilient agricultural systems across West Africa and the Sahel.
Under Traoré’s leadership, the Soil Values program will continue to prioritize sustainable soil fertility management, aiming to improve the productive capacity of 2 million hectares of farmland and enhance the resilience of 1.5 million farmers, with a special focus on women.
Funded by the Dutch Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), the Soil Values program is being implemented over 10 years (2024-2033), led by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), in consortium with SNV and Wageningen University and Research (WUR), as well as knowledge partners such as AGRA, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), ISRIC – World Soil Information, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
