Governance

Dr Baboucarr Manneh is Director General, Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), and CGIAR Regional Director, West and Central Africa.

Dr Manneh, a Gambian national, has nearly three decades of experience in agricultural research and development, including program management and leadership. He led the AfricaRice Genetic Diversity and Improvement Program and was the Center’s Regional Representative for the Sahel, based in St Louis, Senegal, with administrative oversight over seven West African countries. Thanks to his expertise in crop breeding and seed systems, Dr Manneh successfully coordinated the Africa-wide Rice Breeding Task Force involving breeders from over 30 African countries, leading to the release of over 80 climate-resilient rice varieties to help vulnerable farmers cope with climate change. 

He has cultivated strong partnerships with national and international organizations in Africa and Asia and has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities for agricultural research and development, especially in West and Central Africa. Prior to joining AfricaRice, he served as the Director of Research for the Gambia National Agricultural Research Institute. Dr Manneh’s research work is widely published in international peer-reviewed academic journals. He obtained his PhD degree in Plant Breeding and Crop Physiology in 2004 and an MSc in Crop Science with specialization in Crop Breeding in 1998, from Wageningen University, Netherlands. He is fluent in both English and French.