Background
Jonas Weko,
PhD.
I hold a PhD in political science from Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas and devoted seven years of research to the economic, political and monetary analysis of franc zone countries. Originally from Togo, I studied at the Université de Kara before continuing in Bordeaux and Paris. I bring scientific rigour to decision-makers to help inform their strategic choices. I founded Jonas Weko Consulting International to support public sector stakeholders, international institutions and businesses operating in West and Central Africa.
My background on LinkedIn
From research to consulting.
This expertise extends beyond academia. It was built through fieldwork: research visits to IMF headquarters in Washington, the BCEAO in Dakar and UEMOA in Ouagadougou; more than thirty interviews with former senior officials from the IMF, the French Treasury, AFD and the Banque de France; and the analysis of several thousand pages of archives and institutional documents. I have also worked as an independent consultant, producing country risk profiles and operational briefings for institutional and private sector clients.
This combination of rigorous research and practical consulting experience defines my approach. I combine structured monitoring, qualitative and quantitative methods, and stakeholder mapping to produce analysis that goes beyond describing a situation to inform a decision.
I work in French and English.
Explore my publicationsResearch, fieldwork and awards.
Research
- PhD in political science, Très Honorable with the jury’s congratulations — Paris-Panthéon-Assas, November 2025 (supervisor: Professor Yves Surel)
- 885-page thesis on the CFA franc monetary regime since 1960
- 30+ research briefs and policy papers; 7+ conference presentations
- Co-editor of a collective volume (Les Crises, Mare & Martin, 2026, 13 contributors)
Fieldwork
- Fieldwork: IMF (Washington), BCEAO (Dakar), UEMOA (Ouagadougou)
- Interviews with former directors from the French Treasury, IMF, AFD and Banque de France
- 3 AFD certifications (project design, financing, monitoring and evaluation)
- Introduction à la statistique avec R (Université Paris-Saclay) — achievement badge from France Université Numérique (FUN), a French public interest group.
Awards
- Winner of the Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas thesis prize
- Shortlisted — Prix solennel de la Chancellerie de Paris 2026
- Shortlisted — GIS Études africaines en France thesis prize 2026
- First prize in the national international humanitarian law moot court competition (ICRC, 2015)
They know my work.
Rémi Rioux
Chief Executive Officer
French Development Agency (AFD)
Doha Lkasmi
Chief Executive Officer
ESL-Rivington Maroc (ADIT Group)
David Stasavage
Professor, New York University
Thesis examiner
Yves Surel
Professor of Political Science
Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas
Director of CERSA
PhD supervisor