Sékou Touré (Ivory Coast)

Updated on Nov 06, 2023

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Full Name Sékou Touré Successor William Ehlers		Nationality Ivorian

Born July 11, 1957 (age 59) ( 1957-07-11 ) Duékoué, Côte d’Ivoire Alma mater University of New Hampshire University of Cincinnati Occupation Environmental Engineer, UN Executive, Politician Title Conflict Resolution Commissioner, GEF Term September 2007 - December 2012

Sékou Touré (born July 11, 1957 in Duékoué, Côte d’Ivoire) is the Director of the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU) of the African Development Bank (AFDB) and former Conflict Resolution Commissioner of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Early life and family

Touré was born on July 11, 1957, in Duékoué, a town in the western region. His parents were Malinké from Odienné, in the Denguélé District lying in the northern part of Côte d’Ivoire. Sékou Touré is married and has 2 children.

Education

1989 - Ph.D. Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of New Hampshire

1985 - M.Sc. Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati

1982 - B.Sc. Civil Engineering, "École Nationale Supérieure des Traveaux Publics- ENSTP, Côte d’Ivoire

Career

February 2001 to September 2007 - Director of the Regional Office for Africa, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, Kenya

March 2000 to January 2001 - Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire

February 2000 to March 2000 - Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Development Planning and Coordination of the Government of Côte d’Ivoire

January 1996 to December 1999 - Junior Minister (High Commissioner for Hydraulics) of Côte d’Ivoire.

Additionally, Sékou Touré has taught in the United States and Côte d’Ivoire

Tenure at GEF

In September 2007, Sékou Touré Joined the Global Environment Facility (GEF), as the Conflict Resolution Commissioner. In his role, Dr. Touré provides advice and intellectual leadership on the resolution of conflicts and disputes among countries and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) agencies or its secretariat.

Dr. Touré received recognition for his contribution to the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (Nobel Peace Prize received by IPCC and Former US Vice President Al Gore Jr. in December 2007).

Sékou Touré was one of the lead authors on the IPCC Special Report on the Regional Impacts of Climate Change and Assessment on vulnerability (He is the co - author of chapter 2: Africa). He also collaborated with IPCC to develop methodologies to estimate greenhouse gas emissions. His contribution to the work of IPCC date back to when he was a professor in Côte d’Ivoire.