Yra Fonton, Kikè

Kikè Yra Fonton is a PhD Fellow at Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis in Senegal and at UNU-CRIS. Her research aims to deliver improved statistics on Senegalese emigration through a combination of traditional data (typically incomplete and outdated) and digital data (from social media); and to empirically analyse the role of social networks (estimated using digital data as well) - often overlooked – channels through which climate change may affect migration, thereby controlling for traditional determinants of migration decisions in Senegal. She is working under the supervision of Mamadou Abdoulaye Konte (Université Gaston Berger de Saint-Louis) and in collaboration with Ilse Ruyssen as coordinator of the interdisciplinary Migration Working Group at Ghent University. 

Kikè Yra Fonton holds a degree in statistical and economic engineering from ENSAE (Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Analyse Economique) in Senegal. Mainly focused on research in quantitative economics, her skills combine theoretical notions in economics and statistical data analysis tools for modeling complex economic structures. 

In addition to her dissertation research, Kikè Yra Fonton has been working as a consultant research analyst at the World Bank's office in Senegal since 2019.  She is immersed in the huge pool of economic and social stakes and challenges of sub-Saharan Africa countries, through various research projects: measuring COVID-19 impacts, national reforms impacts, and migration studies... 

Her other research experiences include a research visit to Ghent University to explore the joint role of climate change and health as drivers of migration in Senegal, an experience as lecturer at ENSAE Senegal, and research assistant internships at IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute) in Senegal and at her country's national statistical office, INStaD, in Benin.