Biography

Afolabi Juste Djagoun is an early-career professional in forest sciences with a strong interest in research and community-based natural resource management. As a research staff member at CIFOR-ICRAF,he is currently engaged in projects that promote ecosystem-based adaptation, agroforestry, and climate-smart agriculture to enhance community resilience to climate change. Driven and passionate, Afolabi is dedicated to advancing sustainable development and improving local livelihoods through evidence-based environmental initiativesPrior to joining CIFOR-ICRAF, he served as a project officer, where he led a team of four assistants working on initiatives related to mangrove restoration, community empowerment and biodiversity monitoring. He brings extensive experience in project management, having led efforts with both local and international NGOs in the fields of biodiversity conservation, protected area management and community development. He has also demonstrated strong fundraising capabilities, successfully securing more than ten project grants independently and collaboratively. He holds two master’s degrees, onein agroforestry at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar, Senegal, and another in natural resource management from the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin, both completed with a high degree of independence.