Communications Specialists

Tidiane Ba is AKADEMIYA2063’s Visual Design and Production Senior Specialist. He is in charge of managing and producing all visual communications including print design, web graphics, photography, video production, and branding for A2063 and its programs. Prior to AKADEMIYA2063 Tidiane held the position of Visual Communications Specialist at IFPRI which he joined in August 2019.

His past experience and responsibilities include organizing the layout of digital and printed documents, creating graphic guidelines and video content, designing newspapers, annual reports, banners, kakemonos, and many other communication materials. He has more than 20 years of experience in this domain and has previously been working for NGOs, communication agencies and for several projects in Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Tidiane worked as designer and teacher assistant for the Université Virtuelle du Sénégal (UVS).

He holds a degree in multimedia computer graphics from AFPA (Afpa Centre de formations professionnelles qualifiantes pour adultes) in Metz, France, and a certificate in graphic and layout designer from the same school in Lyon, France.

Vanessa has always been passionate about languages, cultures, and civilizations. She graduated in Foreign Language Literature and Civilization from Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal (1998) before earning a Degree in Translation at the Haute Ecole Francisco Ferrer of Brussels, Belgium (2003).

Her first work experience was as a Spanish and English free-lance translator in Dakar. For ten years she accumulated a great experience in various areas of translation, working mainly as a translator accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Senegal. From 2015 to 2020, she was offered the opportunity to become more specialized in agricultural policies, economics, and nutrition through her position as translator at IFPRI’s Africa Division.

Vanessa is joining AKADEMIYA2063 as senior translator to put her expertise and skills to use in support to the Institute’s major programs: ReSAKSS, AGRODEP and MaMo.

Cheikh Tourad Traoré is a Communications Coordinator at AKADEMIYA2063. He supports AKADEMIYA2063’s communications work in implementing its development strategy, publication processes, event management and online presence.

Cheikh graduated from Senegal’s Gaston Berger University, and the Higher Institute of Management in Dakar. He holds a Master’s degree in Literatures and Civilizations of the English-Speaking World, a first year MBA Certificate in Communications, Creativity and Event Planning, and an Associate Degree in Political Science.

His experience includes years of volunteering in Digital Communications with Solidarity for Social Development, an NGO based in Lyon (France) and operating in Guinea, and also held the position of Research Assistant at AmSHER’s project to end gender-based violence in Senegal. He regularly contributes to many online media work in Senegal, and particularly covers activities by the alumni of the Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (Mashav) to which he belongs.

Prior to joining AKADEMIYA2063, he was the Communications Assistant for IFPRI’s West and Central Africa Office. He developed a strong experience in communicating for a policy-oriented research institution: conveying research outputs to diverse audiences, editing website content, collecting, and sharing usage statistics of various online platforms. Cheikh is pursuing an MBA in Political Science, specialising in State and Non-State actors’ collaboration for Africa’s development.