Souleymane ABBA GANA holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Artois (Lille, northern France) and is the author of The Economics of Civil Wars: An Analysis of Intra-State Armed Conflicts in West Africa.

Alongside his career as a lecturer and researcher, he became involved in the humanitarian sector from 2005 onwards. There, he supported national NGOs in ensuring their activities complied with regulations, working in partnership with United Nations agencies, before taking up field roles with several international humanitarian organisations.

He joined SIF in 2015, where he has held a number of roles, including that of Director of International Operations, a position he currently holds.