Research & Policy Analyst – Public Governance and Political Economy of CFA Franc Zone

Personal Data

Jonas Weko

Paris, France

06 58 86 22 07

[email protected]

LinkedIn

Areas of Expertise

• Public Governance & Public Policy Analysis (monetary and economic policies)
• Political economy of CFA Franc Zone
• Monetary policy & regional integration in West Africa
• Project Design, Implementation, Monitoring & Evaluation (AFD-certified)
• Multi-stakeholder Coordination & Multicultural Teamwork

Languages

• French
  • Native
• English
  • Professional working proficiency

Soft Skills

• Analytical rigor & mixed-methods design
• Quantitative (Excel, R) & Qualitative Research Methods
• Elite interviewing & archival research
• Cross-institutional coordination
• Comparative & longitudinal analysis
• Multicultural teamwork
• Editorial coordination & public communication

Summary

Political scientist and recent Ph.D. graduate (Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, defended November 2025) specializing in the political economy of the CFA franc zone. Doctoral research analyzed the genesis and reform trajectory of the CFA franc monetary regime and its implications for regional integration and macroeconomic governance. Combines longitudinal policy analysis with fieldwork inside regional development-finance institutions (BCEAO, WAEMU Commission) and archival work at the IMF.

Professional Experience

Founder & Principal Consultant – Economic Intelligence & Geopolitical Analysis Jonas Weko Consulting International (JWC) – Freelance – Paris / West Africa Nov. 2025 – Present

• Strategic monitoring: competitive, sectoral, regulatory, and geopolitical intelligence – continuous tracking of market conditions, regulatory developments, and the political-security environment across areas of operation.
• Country risk & geopolitical analysis: recurring country-risk monitoring subscriptions (monthly political, economic, and security tracking of a given region), ad hoc country notes and risk assessments, situational updates and pre-travel briefings, and forward-looking scenario planning on request.
• Sectoral notes & stakeholder mapping: in-depth sectoral analyses and mapping of key actors within a sector or ecosystem, for public- and private-sector clients operating in West Africa.
• Training & capacity-building: "geopolitical risk" workshops for executives, awareness training on economic intelligence and information protection, and training in open-source (OSINT) research methods.

Political Science & International Political Economy Researcher Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas – CERSA-CNRS (Associate Researcher since Jan. 2026) – Paris, France Sept. 2018 – Nov. 2025

• Led a comparative, longitudinal analysis (1959–2025) of monetary and economic reform trajectories across eight West African countries (CFA franc zone), assessing the impact of successive institutional reforms on macroeconomic performance, governance, and policy implementation.
• Designed and deployed a mixed-methods research framework combining qualitative analysis (30+ elite interviews – IMF, French Treasury, AFD, BCEAO, Banque de France; 6,000+ pages of archives, 10,000+ pages of institutional documents) with quantitative analysis (multi-country datasets, longitudinal time-series analysis).
• Conducted on-site research missions at IMF headquarters (Washington, D.C., April 2023), BCEAO (Dakar & Lomé, Feb. 2020), and WAEMU/UEMOA (Ouagadougou, Jan. 2020); engaged directly with senior international decision-makers and officials.
• Mapped complex institutional configurations linking national governments, regional bodies (BCEAO, WAEMU/UEMOA, BOAD), and international organizations (IMF, World Bank, AFD); produced comparative assessments and reform recommendations.

Teaching Experience

Adjunct Lecturer (165 hours) – Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas / ISIT 2026–2027

• Courses Taught – Seminars (TD)

Temporary Lecturer & Research Assistant (ATER) – Université d'Artois 2021–2023

• Courses Taught

Doctoral Teaching Fellow – Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas 2018–2021

• Courses

Education

Ph.D. in Political Science – Highest Honors with Unanimous Congratulations of the Jury Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas (CERSA-CNRS), Paris, France | 2018–2025

• Dissertation: "The CFA Franc Monetary Regime since 1959: Genesis and Reform Trajectory under the Structuring Effect of the 'Operations Account'" (885 p.), supervised by Prof. Yves Surel.
• Fields of specialization: Public Policy Analysis; International Political Economy; International Relations.
• Jury: Bruno Palier (Chair), Nadine Machikou & David Stasavage (External Examiners), Sabine Saurugger, Cyril Benoît, Blandine Mesnel.

Research Master (M2), Political Studies – Distinction (Mention Bien) Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, Paris, France | 2017–2018

• Key subjects: Public Policy, Electoral Analysis, Comparative Political Regimes.
• Thesis: Democratic Transitions in Togo and Benin: Dynamics and Mimicry (Grade: 17/20).

M1, Comparative Politics: Political Thought and Regimes – Distinction (Mention Bien) Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France | 2016–2017

LL.B. in Law & Political Science – Distinction (Mention Bien) Université de Kara, Kara, Togo | 2012–2015

Publications & Communications

Books: J. Saniez & J. Weko (eds.), Les Crises: Perspectives croisées droit et science politique, Mare & Martin, 2026, p. 200

Peer-reviewed article: "The Operations Account: Practices and Legitimization in the Making of a Postcolonial Monetary Order," Politique Africaine, 2025/4, n° 180, 2025. p. 41-63

Book chapter: "Legitimacy Crises of the Operations Account and the Crisis of Franco-African Cooperation," ch. 10 in Les Crises, 2026, p. 165-180

Selected Conference Papers & Presentations:

• "Comparative Analysis of Health Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: Political Regimes and Social Policy." AFSP Congress, Bordeaux, 2019.
• "The Failure of Real-Adjustment Policies in Franc-Zone African Countries (1980s–1990s)." Conference on Public (In)capacity, Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas & University of Yaoundé II, Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2024.
• "Contesting the International CFA Franc Regime: Historical Discontinuities and the Reconfiguration of Actors." Joint ABSP–CoSPoF Congress, Brussels, 2021.
• "The Depoliticization of Economic and Monetary Objects in Africa." International Conference, Cotonou, Benin, 2021.

Certifications

🏅 Introduction to Statistics with R — Université Paris-Saclay / France Université Numérique (FUN) — Certificate of successful completion, October 2026.

🏅 Qualified for Associate Professor (Maître de conférences) positions – CNU

🏅 Monitoring and Evaluation of a Development Project – Agence Française de Développement (AFD)

🏅 Designing an Environmentally and Socially Responsible Development Project – Agence Française de Développement (AFD)

🏅 MODEV 6 – Understanding and Convincing Funders – Agence Française de Développement (AFD)

Awards & Achievements

🏆 Ph.D. awarded with highest honors and unanimous congratulations of the jury

🏆 Laureate, Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas Doctoral Thesis Prize

🏆 Shortlisted, Paris Chancellery Solemn Thesis Prize & GIS African Studies Thesis Prize (2026)

REFERENCES PROFESSIONNELLES

• Rémi Rioux, directeur de l’AFD
• Doha Lkasmi, Directrice Générale ESL-Rivington Maroc (Groupe ADIT)
• David Stasavage, Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor, Department of Politics, New York University