Jean-Baptiste Bahama, FAO Representative in Angola

Mr. Jean-Baptiste Bahama is a seasoned agronomic scientist and a national of the Republic of Burundi, with decades of experience in agricultural sciences and Biological Engineering. Throughout his distinguished career, he has brought extensive contribution in agricultural research, academic leadership, and international development cooperation.

Mr. Bahama began his professional journey in 1989 as a Researcher and National Project Coordinator at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Burundi in Bujumbura. He later held several academic leadership positions at the University of Burundi, including Vice-Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, and served as Director of the  Centre for Research and Development in Agroeconomics (CERDA) from April 1997 to January 2002. From February 2002 to April 2008, he served as Rector of the University of Lake Tanganyika in Burundi.

Between May 2008 and August 2014, Mr. Bahama served as Senior Scientific Secretary at the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union in Yaoundé, Cameroon. From September 2014, until joining FAO, he served as Regional Coordinator of the Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme for the Fouta Djallon Highlands, based in Conakry, Guinea.

In February 2016, Mr. Bahama joined the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) as a Plant Production and Protection Officer at the Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in Accra, Ghana. In this role, he led and contributed to the design and implementation of technical programmes, strengthened regional partnerships, and supported the advancement of sustainable agriculture across the region.

Mr. Bahama holds a Doctorate in Agricultural Sciences and Biological Engineering, and a Master’s degree in Tropical and Subtropical Agronomy from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium), along with a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Burundi.