Tell us about yourself and how you came to be a postdoctoral fellow at uOttawa.
I am a 32-year-old Frenchman of Togolese origin on my father's side and Cameroonian on my mother's. Until the beginning of 2022, and for almost 10 years, I was a lecturer at the University Toulouse 1 Capitole in the south of France. I mainly taught International Politics. Love and the desire to discover a new land and its culture led me to the capital of the country with the maple leaf last February. After a law degree, a Master's degree in political science and a Master’s degree in International Politics, I defended my PhD thesis in Political Science on July 17, 2019. In it, I explore the causes of internal conflict in Africa, which are legion. Through a case study, I also propose ways to improve governance and limit these conflicts. These are mainly caused by authoritarianism, inequitable sharing of political power, economic resources and natural resources, including water. Access to blue gold is indeed a cause of belligerence between nomadic and sedentary populations in regions plagued by desertification and increasing drought.
A friend of mine sent me the call for applications for a postdoctoral position in the Water Law and Governance Forum at the University of Ottawa. I eagerly applied because the University of Ottawa is renowned for its scientific quality and multicultural environment where diversity can flourish. I had the joy of being selected by Professor Marie-France Fortin whom I thank again for her confidence.
I am also the president of L'Afrique des Idées (L’ADI), a think-tank that aims to contribute to the public debate in Africa through the production of analyses and the organization of popularization conferences both in France and in Africa.
Tell us about your research topic. What are you working on?
On 4 April 2022, the final part of the 6th report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was published. It strongly reminds us of the urgent need to act in order to limit global warming and subsequent climate disruption. Without urgent action, humanity will go down the drain. In the range of innovative solutions identified at the international level to limit these disruptions as much as possible, the Blue economy has attracted my attention in view of my research interests.
However, this concept remains insufficiently explored both academically and politically. The World Bank (WB) defines the Blue economy as the sustainable exploitation of resources in the oceans for economic growth, improved livelihoods, job creation and the preservation of healthy ocean ecosystems.
Africa is responsible for only 4% of greenhouse gas emissions, but its people are greatly affected by climate change. The African Union (a continental integration organization) has identified the concept of the Blue economy as a tool that can contribute to the fight against climate change. In 2019, it formulated an operational Blue economy strategy for Africa. This will serve as a blueprint for national and regional policy development.
Canada is one of the leading nations in ocean protection and conservation. With its impressive coastline (250,000 km) and three oceans, Canada aims to be a leader in the implementation of the Blue economy concept. To this end, Ottawa is currently developing a Blue Economy Strategy.
As part of my post-doctoral research, I am studying and comparing the pan-African and pan-Canadian strategies.
What do you hope to accomplish during your fellowship at uOttawa?
I am comparing the Pan-African and Pan-Canadian strategies. In particular, I would like to assess their development process, knowing that one is completed and the other is under construction. It will subsequently be interesting to see if the methodology used by the pan-African authorities can be applied in Canada and what lessons can be learned in terms of improving global water governance. Can Canada learn from Africa? And can Africa refine its strategy by learning from Canada?
Through this research, I hope to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and to highlight Africa's positive contributions to the world and to humanity.
What influences your work?
The quality of my work is influenced by the environment in which I work. The quality of the infrastructure is important, as is the quality of the supervision. A healthy and caring working environment is of paramount importance to me.
Do you have any advice for those who are currently completing their PhDs?
First of all, I wish them courage, because the thesis is a beautiful adventure, but it is also a hard one. Then I would advise them, if they are destined for an academic career, to publish as much as possible and to participate in scientific events. Postdocs, especially abroad, to gain international experience, are ideal in this respect. If they are destined for a non-academic career, they should try to see now how they can make the most of their many achievements in another sector of activity. Finally, they should take the time to savour the day of their defence and enjoy these unique and precious moments surrounded by their family and friends.
Do you have publications that you would like to share with our community?
- “COP15 was a success. But will the ambitious targets for biodiversity protection be met?”,The Conversation, 22/12/2022. With Lauren Touchant, Thomas Burelli, Lynda Hubert Ta, Erin Dobbelsteyn, & Elie Klee.
- Opinion piece on "The dangers of the neoliberal model of urban development in Africa" in the monthly Jeune Afrique, n° 3119, December 2022, p. 172. Electronic version : https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1394311/economie/urbanisation-les-dangers-du-modele-neoliberal-en-afrique/
- “Reflections on the relevance to elaborate an African paradigm of education” in S. Guérin and J.-L. Martinez (eds.), Afrique, jeunesses et innovations. Des pistes pour inventer le XXIème siècle, Paris, MA Éditions, 2020.
- “Post-Covid-19 Africa: For a more resilient Africa”, The Review of L’Afrique des Idées, 2020. (Co-authored with Sophonie Koboudé and Nadia Lamlili, analysts at L'Afrique des Idées)https://www.lafriquedesidees.org/lafrique-post-covid19-pour-une-afrique-plus-resiliente/
- “Terrorism in Africa: Myths, Facts, Realities”, The Review of L’Afrique des Idées, 2018. (Co-authored with Cédric Deguenonvo, Economist at the World Bank's regional office in Senegal and Véronique Akom Dossou, Technical advisor at the Ministry of Planning in Togo)https://www.lafriquedesidees.org/terrorisme-afrique-mythes-faits-realites/
- “BRIC/Africa Cooperation: Assessment, Challenges, Perspectives”, The Review of L’Afrique des Idées, 2018. (Co-authored with Cédric Deguenonvo, and Véronique Akom Dossou). https://www.lafriquedesidees.org/cooperation-bric-afrique-bilan-enjeux-perspectives/
- Coordination of the research report on “The challenges of vocational and technical training reform in sub-Saharan Africa” published by L'Afrique des idées in 2018. https://www.lafriquedesidees.org/defis-de-formation-professionnelle-technique-afrique-avenir-jeunesse-continent/
What three words describe you best?
Courteous, jovial, persevering.
What are you currently reading?
Une vie de boy by Ferdinand Oyono and The disappearance of Stéphanie Mailer by Joël Dicker.
