Biography of his excellency,

MR. PARAMANGA ERNEST YONLI,

Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Burkina Faso.

Name & First name (s): YONLI Paramanga Ernest

Date of Birth: 12/31/1956

Birth Place: Tansarga (Tapoa Province)

Mr. Paramanga Ernest YONLI was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Burkina Faso to The United States of America on December 05, 2007.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Paramanga Ernest YONLI served as Prime Minister, Head of Government, from November 2000 to June 2007 (he served as Minister of Economy & Finance concurrently with his position, from November 2000 to June 2002).

In previous governments from 1997 to 2000, Mr. Paramanga Ernest YONLI served as Minister of Civil Service and Institutional Development. Mr. YONLI also took up duty as Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff from February 1996 to September 1997, and Managing Directorof the National Employment Promotion Fund (FONAPE) from 1994 to February 1996.

His professional experience can be traced back to 1982 in France at the “Association pour le Développement des Foyers” (ADEF) where he was in charge of residential establishments for immigrant construction and steel workers.

In February 1986, Mr. YONLI began a career as a Researcher at the Center for Studies, Documentation, and Economic and Social Research (CEDRES) of the University of Ouagadougou where he worked on the research issues of marketing, pricing, and storage of agricultural products. In the same vein, he worked as affiliated Research Economist with the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Burkina Faso, conducting field support missions to identify and implement new activities for a variety of projects (operating plans for projects, agricultural mechanization, economic and financial analysis, complementary measures, etc.).

From 1990 to 1994, Mr. YONLI was in charge of a research program on farmers’ strategies for food security at CEDRES. In addition to his research activities, Mr. YONLI conducted multiple studies and consultations for a wide range of private and governmental organizations, and published several articles and reports on cereal banks, marketing, animal production, cereal production, fruit and vegetable production, etc.

Mr. Paramanga Ernest YONLI obtained his PhD in Economics from the University of Ouagadougou/ University of Groningen (Netherlands) in 1997. Thesis title: « Stratégies paysannes en matière de sécurité alimentaire et de commercialisation céréalière: Le rôle des banques de céréales dans le Nord du Plateau Central du Burkina Faso ». ["Farmers’ strategies for food security and cereal marketing: the role of cereal banks in the North of the Central Plateau of Burkina Faso"]. He also holds a DESS [Diploma of Advanced Specialized Studies] from Institut National d’Agriculture de Paris-Grignon (I.N.A.P.G.) with a concentration in Agricultural Development (1984-1985); a doctoral degree from the University of Paris 1 Pantheon - Sorbonne / IEDES, section International Economics and Development (1981 - 1984); a Maîtrise in Economics, Section - General Economics (Planning and Development) from the University of Benin / ESTEG ( Togo) 1979 - 1981; a DEUG (Diploma of General University Studies) in General Economics from the University of Ouagadougou / ESSEC ( 1976 - 1979); a secondary school diploma, Option D (Mathematics and Natural sciences) from Lycée Philippe ZINDA KABORE (1976).

As a politician, he served as a Member and Head of Cabinet, he was also a member of the Executive National Directorate of the Ruling Parti “Congrès pour la Démocratie et le Progrès” (CDP).

Mr. YONLI attended numerous training courses abroad, namely at the University of Groningen on Mathematical Modeling and Software, and various workshops on Research projects.

Mr. Paramanga Ernest YONLI speaks French and English fluently. He is married with four children.

He is Grand Officier de l'Ordre National and has been awarded several foreign decorations.

Hobbies:
-Sport (tennis and handball)
-Reading
-movies