Our president

João Bosco Monte is a leading authority on Brazil–Africa relations and a primary architect of South-South cooperation. As the Founder and President of the Brazil Africa Institute (IBRAF), he has spent his career fostering strategic partnerships and high-level dialogue between Brazil, the African continent, and other regions. He also serves as the General Coordinator of the Brazil Africa Forum, the preeminent multisectoral platform connecting government, business, and academic leaders to promote global collaboration.

Dr. Monte currently serves as Advisor in the Research & Analysis Department at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) in the United Arab Emirates, where he contributes to research and strategic analysis on international relations, economic diplomacy, and emerging partnerships across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

His leadership is underpinned by a rigorous academic foundation. Dr. Monte holds a Ph.D. in Education from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC) and completed postdoctoral studies in International Relations at the University of Brasília (UnB). A respected scholar, he is an Academic Reviewer at the Rio Branco Institute (IRBr)—Brazil’s diplomatic academy—and has served as a visiting professor at numerous universities across both Brazil and Africa.

Beyond academia, Dr. Monte exerts significant influence in global policy circles. He is a member of the Academic and Scientific Board at TRENDS Research & Advisory (Abu Dhabi) and a Senior International Associate at the Center for African, Latin American, and Caribbean Studies (CALACS) in India. His commitment to sustainable development led him to serve as a Champion for the UN Food Systems Summit (2021), where he advocated for inclusive food security policies.

In recognition of his distinguished service to international relations, Dr. Monte was twice awarded the Order of Rio Branco (2018 and 2023), the highest honor granted by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His multifaceted career also includes serving as a Brazilian delegate to the BRICS Academic Forum and as the Secretary for International and Institutional Relations for the City of Fortaleza. Today, he continues to act as a strategic advisor to governments and private institutions while leading international initiatives that advance cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development, including the “Mandela: World Icon of Reconciliation” exhibition in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation.