Assist Prof Dr. Soumaila Gansonre | Economics, Econometrics and Finance | Best Researcher Award

Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo | Burkina Faso

Author Profile

Scopus

Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Soumaila Gansonre's academic journey began with a strong foundation in economics at Université Thomas Sankara, where he earned his B.A. in Macroeconomics and Development Planning in 2010. He continued at the same institution to complete his M.Phil in Applied Macroeconomics in 2012. Driven by a passion for agricultural and development economics, he pursued his Ph.D. in Applied Agricultural Economics and Policy at the University of Ghana, graduating in 2017. His dissertation, which focused on sustainability and development within agricultural sectors, laid the groundwork for his future research endeavors.

Professional Endeavors

After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Gansonre joined Cornell University as a fellow in the Structural Transformation of African Agriculture and Rural Spaces (STAARS) program, a position he held from May 2018 to May 2019. This role involved conducting advanced research on agricultural economics and rural development. Concurrently, he worked as an independent consultant at the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. Since June 2019, Dr. Gansonre has been serving as an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics at the Centre Universitaire de Ziniaré, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo in Burkina Faso.

Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Gansonre's research interests are deeply rooted in development economics, with a particular focus on applied agricultural economics and policy. His studies often address the impacts of environmental and economic variables on agricultural households and rural communities. Notable publications include his analysis of rainfall variability on rural welfare in Niger and his examination of managerial practices on the performance of SMEs in Burkina Faso. His work is characterized by a strong quantitative approach, utilizing tools like Stata, Matlab, and Eviews for data analysis.

Accolades and Recognition

Dr. Gansonre has received numerous fellowships, grants, and awards in recognition of his contributions to agricultural economics. In 2022, he was awarded a Project Development Grant by the Agricultural Technology Adoption Initiative (ATAI) to study contract farming compliance in Burkina Faso. He also secured a significant research grant from the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) in 2020 to analyze the impact of COVID-19 relief measures on SME employment. His scholarly excellence is further evidenced by his postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University and various exploratory research grants from prestigious institutions.

Impact and Influence

Dr. Gansonre's work has significantly influenced the field of development economics, particularly in the context of West Africa. His research on non-farm employment and market constraints has provided valuable insights into the economic behaviors and challenges faced by rural households and smallholder farmers. His findings have been published in high-impact journals such as Agricultural Economics and the International Journal of the Economics of Business, contributing to the broader academic discourse on sustainable development and agricultural policy.

Legacy and Future Contributions

As Dr. Gansonre continues his academic and research career, he is poised to further advance our understanding of development economics through innovative research and applied policy analysis. His future projects include assessing the potential of livestock in poverty reduction and evaluating rural infrastructure's impact on food insecurity in the Sahel. Through his teaching at Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, he is also shaping the next generation of economists, imparting critical analytical skills and a deep understanding of economic development principles.

Notable Publications

Rainfall variability and welfare of agricultural households: Evidence from rural Niger 2024

Sustainability and Wealth of Rural Households: Measurement and Inequality Analysis 2022 (2)

Managerial practices and the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises: Evidence from Burkina Faso 2023