Very sadly, our dear friend and colleague, Diakalia Sanogo, died on 24 September 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey, where he had traveled to receive medical treatment.
Diakalia made many significant contributions to various initiatives during his time working for IDRC, notably the Think Tank Initiative and the Science Granting Councils Initiative. He worked in the Nairobi and Dakar offices, before retiring in June 2023 to his farm in Sikasso, Mali. Drawing on his longstanding interest in agriculture – he had a PhD in agricultural economics from Purdue University — he was enjoying experimenting with different crops and growing techniques, amongst several other activities.
Diakalia was a happy, generous, and wise person, admired by those who had the opportunity to know him, among which are many current and past IDRC colleagues, who worked with him in the regional offices in sub-Saharan Africa and at IDRC headquarters in Ottawa. His insights, guidance, and support were also much appreciated by many IDRC grantees, who continued to seek his advice even after he retired. To many of us at IDRC and in its broader network, he was a friend, brother, and mentor, who showed us how to approach life with a strong sense of spirituality and humility as well as kindness and good humour.
Diakalia’s passing is a huge loss. He will be sorely missed by his wife Fatim, daughter Goundo, his mother, and an extended family of siblings, nephews, and nieces, as well as many friends and colleagues across the world.
Ann Weston, Ottawa
Bulletin 75
January 2025