Biography

Aurel is a Beninese PhD student in Agricultural Economics at UCLouvain, working under the supervision of Prof. Goedele van den Broeck. He holds a MSc in Agricultural Economics from the Faculty of Agronomic Sciences at the University of Abomey-Calavi (Benin). Prior to starting his PhD, he gained two years of professional experience as a research officer at COSINUS CONSEILS, a consulting firm specializing in value chain analysis and the evaluation of agricultural development projects in West Africa. Funded by an ARES-PRD scholarship, his doctoral research focuses on the analysis and optimization of the value chain of Ricinodendron heudelotii (locally known as "Akpi") in Benin. The study aims to map the value chain, assess its socio-economic impact, and propose sustainable strategies to enhance the inclusion of women and youth in non-timber forest product value chains.