28 years of field experience — FAO, international NGOs and United Nations system agencies.
I support United Nations agencies, NGOs, public institutions, businesses and donors in the design, coordination, monitoring & evaluation and performance of development, environmental and humanitarian response projects in West Africa.
My areas of expertise
« More than 28 years designing and coordinating concrete responses to food insecurity, humanitarian crises and the challenges of climate change. »
I am a rural development expert with more than 28 years of experience in the food and nutrition security sector, through both humanitarian emergency interventions and projects and programmes promoting sustainable, nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems resilient to the effects of climate change.
I have built a solid capacity to manage integrated, multi-activity projects for national and international NGOs, including United Nations system agencies working together as consortia on joint projects. I work closely with farmers', women's and youth organizations to analyze their specific constraints and needs, and to bring tailored solutions that value participation, inclusion and the mobilization of target communities' own resources.
My experience working with local authorities and development partners is grounded in leading monographic studies and participatory diagnostics that have fed into several regional and local development plans and programmes.
FAO certificate of recognition of professional expertise (July 2026) for the Dimitra community listening clubs approach in Mali and West Africa (March 2016 – December 2025). I represented Mali at international meetings of Dimitra specialists (Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger).
Recognized among FAO's "100 Young and 100 Young at Heart" (2022), in acknowledgment of my professional commitment to rural communities.
Nine areas of intervention covering the full project cycle, from humanitarian emergency response to data analysis.
Monitoring and coordination of food security, nutrition, reconciliation and social cohesion projects, with attention to Gender and people with specific needs.
Distribution and monitoring of agricultural inputs and tools, leading emergency interventions and nutrition-sensitive agriculture projects. Food security analysis and classification using the Cadre Harmonisé framework.
Nutrition-sensitive market gardening, promotion of bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides for more resilient production systems.
Agropastoral field schools (technical component), Village Savings and Credit Associations (financial component), cash transfers, contingency funds and Dimitra Clubs (social component).
Expert trainer in Dimitra listening clubs and PRA participatory diagnostics for farmers' organizations.
Design and monitoring of cash transfer mechanisms in emergency contexts, in coordination with humanitarian actors.
Production of thematic maps in QGIS to support the targeting, monitoring and steering of interventions.
Processing and analysis of survey data in R, SPSS and STATA, database queries and management in SQL, dashboards in Power BI, Python scripting, and use of AI tools (Claude) to accelerate exploration and reporting.
Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook for reporting, analysis and administrative project management.
A steady path toward growing responsibilities, always in direct contact with rural communities and project teams.
FAO Sub-office, Mopti
Integrated Development Action Plan (PADI), Sadiola
GRDR, Kayes
Malian Red Cross, Kayes
AMADE, Kayes
ICRISAT / CIRAD, Samanko-Bamako
Territorial Planning / Natural Resource Management Unit (CAT/GRN), Sikasso
Six degrees earned throughout a career spanning from a higher technician diploma in Agriculture to master's degrees in international cooperation and project management.
KALU Institute, Madrid, Spain
DELTA C University, Bamako, Mali
Institut Sciences Campus, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
DELTA C University, Bamako, Mali
Mandé Boukary University, Bamako, Mali
IPR/IFRA, Katibougou, Mali
Non-exhaustive list — a selection of the most representative training in the career path.
Field-tested skills available for your coordination, evaluation, diagnostic, training and statistical data analysis assignments.
Coordination and monitoring & evaluation of food and nutrition security projects, from diagnosis to reporting.
Expertise in leading emergency interventions: setting up and monitoring emergency food production technologies, beneficiary targeting, inter-agency coordination.
Advisory on "resilience fund" approaches (VSLA, Dimitra Clubs, agropastoral field schools) and design of cash transfer mechanisms.
Statistical data analysis in Python, R, SQL, STATA, SPSS and Power BI to inform management decisions, and production of thematic maps in QGIS to support project steering and targeting.
Leading participatory diagnostics and monographic studies, developing strategic and local development plans (NGO and federation strategic plans, PDESC, PAP), conducting environmental and social management studies and plans (NIES, EIES, HSE), and designing steering tools (dashboards and simplified management tools) to strengthen the performance of organizations, local authorities and SMEs.
« For 10 years, Mr. Koné introduced the Dimitra Clubs community engagement approach across several projects and regions in Mali, and ensured its methodological, technical and strategic follow-up, contributing to its integration within FAO's programmes. He ensured the training and coaching of facilitators from implementing partner organizations, the supervision and monitoring of activities and their impact, as well as the production and harmonization of knowledge related to the approach. On several occasions, he also represented Mali at international meetings of Dimitra Clubs specialists in Africa, notably in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger. »
« His mastery of participatory development methodologies, communication for development, and collective action, combined with his constant commitment to inclusion and gender equality among rural communities and development partners, guaranteed the quality, consistency and impact of the Dimitra Clubs approach in Mali. »
« Through his professionalism and technical leadership, Mr. Sidi Koné established himself as a reference Dimitra Clubs specialist in Mali and West Africa. »
« Mr. KONE Sidi was mobilized twice by FAO as an Expert Trainer in the "Dimitra" approach to strengthen the capacities of our organization and its local partners, under projects UNJP_060-PBF/FAOMLI (Yanfolila) and UNJP_080-PBF/FAOMLI (Sikasso, Kadiolo). ADH-Mali commends the quality of Mr. KONE's work and strongly recommends him for any capacity-building or project team coaching initiative. »
M'Pèrè DEMBÉLÉ, Executive Director — ADH-Mali NGO
« Mr. Sidi KONE trained me and my team in the fundamentals of the DIMITRA community approach, with rare rigor and attention to detail: group facilitation techniques, managing local dynamics, and writing reports and capitalizing on achievements. His cross-cutting expertise — agronomy, community mediation, data capitalization — enabled us to reach our objectives and gain credibility with communities and donors alike. Beyond the rigorous professional, he is also a man of heart: generous, attentive, and a sincere mentor whose wisdom remains a touchstone in my career. »
Abdoulaye DIALLO, Former Field Coordinator — AMAPROS NGO (PBF056 Project)
Professional references available upon request.
Immediately available for consulting assignments, evaluations or coordination mandates in Mali and West Africa.