Joseph Olivier Mendo'o

Joseph Olivier Mendo'o is a Cameroonian political scientist and Afro-sinologist specializing in China–Africa relations. He earned his PhD in political science and international relations from Peking University in May 2023 and is recognized for his research on rural development and poverty alleviation in China, which he has studied through extensive fieldwork in Chinese villages.

Education and career

Mendo'o studied at the Free University of Berlin, graduating in 2013, then returned to Cameroon in 2014, where he became interested in China after observing Chinese-built infrastructure projects. He conducted extensive fieldwork in rural China, visiting more than 50 villages and 70 schools across 19 provinces to study grassroots poverty alleviation strategies. His research examines how Chinese approaches to rural revitalization might be adapted for African contexts, particularly in agriculture-based economies.

He was appointed head of the African Youth Delegation in China in 2018 and co-founded the China–Africa Youth Federation (CAYF) in 2019. After completing his doctorate, he joined the China-Africa Business Council as executive director of its International Exchange Department.

Public recognition

In 2023, Mendo'o was named among the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD 100 Under 40) by the MIPAD program, which supports the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, and also serves as MIPAD Country Director for China.