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My name is 𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗪𝗔 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗷𝗮 𝗢𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 , from 𝗧𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮.

I am currently a Master’s 2 student in Statistics, specializing in Biostatistics at the 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘆-𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗶 .

I have chosen to pursue my studies at the LABEF, particularly in the field of Biostatistics, in line with my career objectives.

My research work will focus on the following topic: “𝗦𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴.”

I would like to express my deep appreciation to the Director of the 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙, Professor 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗲̀𝗹𝗲̀ 𝗞𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗶̈ , and his team for their support and leadership.

I also acknowledge with deep appreciation the financial backing of 𝗗𝗔𝗔𝗗, which has made my studies possible.

#LABEF #Biostatistics #DAAD #UAC #Research #SpatialAnalysis #DiseaseMapping #PublicHealth #Statistics #Africa

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲!

𝙋𝒉𝘿 𝙥𝒓𝙤𝒋𝙚𝒄𝙩: “𝙊𝒑𝙩𝒊𝙢𝒂𝙡 𝘾𝒐𝙣𝒕𝙧𝒐𝙡 𝙈𝒐𝙙𝒆𝙡𝒊𝙣𝒈 𝒐𝙛 𝘼𝒇𝙧𝒊𝙘𝒂𝙣 𝙈𝒂𝙞𝒛𝙚 𝙎𝒕𝙖𝒍𝙠 𝘽𝒐𝙧𝒆𝙧 (𝑩𝙪𝒔𝙨𝒆𝙤𝒍𝙖 𝙛𝒖𝙨𝒄𝙖) 𝑫𝙮𝒏𝙖𝒎𝙞𝒄𝙨”

I am 𝗘𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗭𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗔, 𝗥𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻; I am a PhD student in Biometry at the 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗶.

The aim of my project theme is to develop and analyze a seasonal mathematical model with optimal control strategies for managing Busseola fusca (African maize stalk borer) populations in maize cropping systems across sub-Saharan Africa.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴:

(i) produced the PRISMA-based systematic review with quality assessment for crop pest models;

(ii) (ii) developed a seasonal Busseola fusca model showing that an 8% reduction in annual pest survival drives population decline, with adult/larval mortality as key intervention targets;

(iii) (iii) extend the framework to integrate multiple controls (chemical, biological, cultural, plant resistance) with explicit control reproduction numbers; and

(iv) (iv) formulate an optimal control problem to identify cost-effective, time-dependent strategies for sustainable pest management in sub-Saharan Africa.

My work will provide farmers, extension agents, and policymakers with precise, evidence-based guidance on when and how to implement the controls, which pest stages to target, how to manage residues, and what reduction threshold is needed to eliminate B. fusca, ultimately reducing yield losses and improving food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

To all our partners notably 𝗗𝗔𝗔𝗗 – thank you. To my supervisor, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳. 𝗗𝗿. 𝗜𝗿. 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗲̀𝗹𝗲̀ 𝗞𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗶̈, I owe a special debt of gratitude. His unwavering guidance, scientific rigor, patience, and encouragement that help to complete shortly my thesis. He is teaching me that good science is not just about equations but also about solving problems that matter to people.

This was 𝗘𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗭𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗔, a PhD student from 𝗥𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 and studying at the 𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗙.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲!

Congratulations to 𝗗𝗿. 𝗚𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲́ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 on the successful defense of his 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗿, 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗶𝘂𝗺.

His dissertation, entitled : “ 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲: 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹-𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵”, investigated pathways to enhance coastal sustainability in the Anthropocene, by analyzing how to enhance the sustainable use of mangroves and strengthen their social-ecological resilience through an interdisciplinary approach.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:

- The study showed that traditional beliefs and local deities play a significant role in regulating the use of mangrove resources, while the overlapping of formal and informal institutions offer opportunities to enhance their social-ecological resilience.

- The novel proposed framework called Mangrove Social Ecological Resilience Appraisal (MaSERA) outlines variables and indicators tailored to mangroves to assess their social-ecological resilience.

- The application of the framework in Benin highlights its potential in identifying factors that erode or enhance mangrove resilience.

Dear 𝗗𝗿. 𝗚𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲́ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁, we are proud of your accomplishments and extend our best wishes as you advance to the next stages of your promising career.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

1. Gnansounou, S. C., Salako, K. V., Visée, C., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., Kakaï, R. G., Kestemont, P., & Henry, S. (2024). The role of local deities and traditional beliefs in promoting the sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems. Forest Policy and Economics, 160, 103145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2023.103145

2. Gnansounou, S. C., Salako, K. V., Pellowe, K. E., Diallo, K., Kakaï, R. G., Kestemont, P., & Henry, S. (2026). Synergies between legal frameworks and traditional rules, and their potential for enhancing the social-ecological resilience of mangroves. Ocean & Coastal Management, 271, 107950. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2025.107950

3. Gnansounou, S. C., Dendoncker, N., Salako, K. S., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., Pellowe, K., De Longueville, F., Silvestre, F., Glèlè Kakaï, R., Kestemont, P., Henry S. Mangrove Social-Ecological Resilience Appraisal (MaSERA): A novel interdisciplinary Framework for Assessment. Under review

4. Gnansounou, S. C., Dendoncker, N., Salako, K. S., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., Pellowe, K., De Longueville, F., Silvestre, F., Glèlè Kakaï, R., Kestemont, P., Henry S. Toward coastal sustainability: operationalizing the Mangrove Social-Ecological Resilience Appraisal (MaSERA) framework. Under review

In 2024, the scientific articles were published in 36 journals as summarized. Several research domains were covered. Among the sixteen research domains covered, biometry (12 published papers), forestry (10 published papers), machine learning (7 published papers), agroforestry (4 published papers), Ecology (4 published papers), and Epidemiology (3 published papers) were the most investigated

Professor Romain Glèlè Kakaï is elected member of the African Academy of Sciences

Professor Romain Glèlè Kakaï is elected member of the African Academy of Sciences

We are honored to announce the election of Professor 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗹𝗲̀𝗹𝗲̀ 𝗞𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗶̈, the head of LABEF, as a member of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), a continental distinction to recognize scientific excellence, leadership and impact in Africa and beyond. His election is the result of a series of evaluations carried out at different levels following his nomination in mid-2024. « The recruitment of AAS members follows a strict assessment carried out by members ‘advisory committees (MAC) in various fields of specialization. The penultimate step before the vote of the academy members is the decision of the board of directors. Recommendations of the members’ Advisory Committees and members ‘votes are compiled and submitted to the AAS board of directors for final examination and approval.

This recognition results from years of relentless research, mentorship and scientific leadership that have given rise to prizes and awards, to the publication of more than 350 scientific articles in statistics and applied mathematics in agriculture, health, environment and to an H index of 46 (in April 2025). As a member of this prestigious scientific community, he will contribute to the mission of the Academy, particularly in shaping scientific, technologic and innovation policies over the continent and support the next generation of African scientists.

Gratitude to the board of directors of the AAS for electing him. Thanks to Professors Norbert Hounkonnou, (Benin) and Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli (Morocco), who nominated him and supported his election. Professor Hounkonnou is the president of the African Academies sciences network (AASN) and former president of the National Academy des Sciences, Arts and Letters of Benin (NASALB). Professor Cherkaoui El Moursli is the vice-president of NASAC and member of European Academy Sciences and Arts (EASA). Thanks also to colleagues, Professors Yves Brostaux (Belgium), Atinuke Adebanji (Ghana), and Thomas Couvreur (France) for their support through letters of recommendation.

Together, let us continue to advance science for the development of Africa.