3rd Class, 2005-2007
Field Placement: Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Cotonou, Benin
Akilou Seibou worked on the Education First Project, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and implemented by a consortium of NGOs that included CRS, World Education and Terre des Hommes. It aimed at reducing child labor and child trafficking. Akilou also conducted training for the local NGO CARITAS and participated in several workshops and conferences to help the Benin government draft a national action plan to fight child trafficking. He worked with local authorities on policy development and completed a study on child trafficking and decentralization in Benin.
Policy Placement: Catholic Relief Services, Baltimore, MD
In collaboration with CRS’ Protection Policy Advisor, Akilou developed a survey report of CRS field programs addressing child labor with a view to identifying the range of programming, the forms of child labor addressed and the solutions pursued. He helped develop CRS’ child protection framework. He also researched and produced a paper linking food scarcity/insecurity, migration and child labor, and organized a series of brown bag presentations.
Pre-Fellowship Education/Experience:
Akilou holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development from the School for International Training (SIT), with a focus on development management. Before joining the Leland program he worked as a small business owner. Akilou’s language competency includes French, Hausa and Fulani.