Abdoulaye supports the growth and diversification of Root Capital’s agricultural lending portfolio by developing and managing relationships with partner organizations. He previously worked as a rural socio-economist at the National Scientific and Technological Research Center (CNRST) in Burkina Faso, then as a rural finance volunteer in an international Belgian NGO, Aquadev International, and spent the last 5 years as a Researcher in Learning and Agricultural Innovation Systems at Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice). Abdoulaye holds a Master’s degree in Microfinance from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management in Belgium; a degree of Rural Development Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso, and a certificate in Multi-stakeholder Processes Facilitation and Social Learning from the Centre for Development Innovation, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands.