Willy Mulimbi Byamungu is an Agriculture and Development Professional from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He grew up and worked at beginning of his career in Bukavu where he got an MSc in Crop production at the Université Catholique de Bukavu before moving to Kinshasa, the capital of his beloved country.

Willy has an extensive experience in the design and implementation of food security, environment, and agriculture integrated programs, and setting up partnerships. He has 15 years of experience working in rural communities with smallholders’ farmers, farmers’ groups, government institutions and a diversity of national and international organizations and research institutions.

As an agronomist, his focus has been on cassava, banana, and coffee. Prior to coming to the U.S. in 2016 to invest more in his education, he spent 8 years with Catholic Relief Services, a US-based international organization. Willy is a Fulbright scholar, pursuing a Master degree program in Agricultural Economics at the University of Arkansas. He aims to go back home with a Ph.D. to better contribute to improving the sector of agriculture and development research, and entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Willy thinks that well set up, sustainable agriculture is the right answer to ending poverty.