Mr Baïdy Dieng Joins ESSA’s Board of Trustees

Education Sub Saharan Africa (ESSA) is delighted to have appointed Baïdy Dieng to its Board of Trustees on 1st October 2025.

“On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees and staff, it is my honour to welcome Mr. Baïdy Dieng to ESSA,” said Patrick Dunne, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Baïdy’s outstanding career in governance, audit, and consulting, combined with his passion for ESSA’s mission, makes him a great fit for the next phase of our development. His extensive leadership experience, commitment to good governance, and deep understanding of African business and social ecosystems will greatly enhance our Board as we continue to build partnerships that improve education through data and evidence from Africa. His knowledge of Francophone Africa will be invaluable as ESSA deepens its reach across linguistic and regional boundaries.”

A Senegalese national, Mr. Dieng brings more than 30 years of experience in governance, audit, and consulting across Africa and beyond. A former Regional Leader at EY for Francophone Africa, he has advised governments, development partners, and private sector organisations on governance, risk, and compliance across Africa.

He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at Ecobank Senegal, where he chairs the Audit and Compliance Committee. Mr. Dieng also holds several other board positions, including with Tobene Power Energy, Club des Investisseurs Sénégalais, and Teranga Capital. Furthermore, he is an active business angel supporting high-growth SMEs in Senegal.

Mr Dieng’s appointment comes at an exciting time for ESSA, as the organisation prepares to build upon its growing track record, celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2026 and launch the next phase of its strategic development. His leadership will help shape ESSA’s growth and further deepen engagement with partners across the continent. In particular, his extensive network and experience in Francophone Africa will strengthen ESSA’s regional presence and advance its mission to use data and evidence to improve education systems across Africa.

Dr. Pauline Essah, CEO of ESSA, added:

“Baïdy’s impressive track record, passion for education, and values align perfectly with ESSA’s vision
and mission. His insight and leadership come at an exciting time, as ESSA marks a decade of impact
and sets out an ambitious new strategy for the years ahead.”

Mr. Baïdy Dieng said:

“Joining ESSA is an honour. Education is the foundation of Africa’s progress, and I look forward to
contributing to ESSA’s work in ensuring that data and evidence from Africa translate into real
improvements for young people and societies across the region, particularly in Francophone Africa.”

With his pan-African perspective and deep governance expertise, Mr. Dieng will play an important role in guiding ESSA’s strategic direction and advancing its vision to improve education outcomes across Africa.

For enquiries, please contact: Izel Kipruto – Head of Communications, ESSA: izel@essa-africa.org.