Dr. Mahama Ouedraogo is the former Director of the Department of Education Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), of the African Union Commission. In this capacity he oversaw the implementation of various African Union decisions on education, science and technology, including the Science Technology and Innovation strategy for Africa (STISA-2024), the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25), the African Space Policy and Strategy, and the Pan African University among other responsibilities. He also supervised the activities of the Youth and Human development division, served as Head of Science and Technology Division, and Executive Secretary of the African Union Scientific Technical and Research Commission. He has been actively involved in science, technology and innovation programmes of the African Union. He currently serves as advisor to the WECAWheat network. Prior to joining the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, he was appointed Acting Director of the Semi-Arid Food Grain Research & Development (SAFGRAD) where he coordinated transnational agricultural research programmes in West and Central Africa particularly within the ECOWAS region. Dr. Ouedraogo holds a Doctorate in plant breeding from Texas A&M University.
