Danielle Barret is project manager in the research and strategy directorate, International Research Centre for Agricultural Development (CIRAD). Previously she worked for the ministries of Research and of Cooperation as attaché for research in developing countries; for the Embassy of France in Lagos, Nigeria, as cultural and scientific attaché; and deputy director of the Centre National des Œuvres Universitaires et Scolaires (CNOUS), which deals with foreign students in France (1992–1999). Barret has been deputy director of international relations at the Ministry of Education, Research and Technology (1999–2002), secretary general of the National Committee for Research Evaluation (2002–2005) and senior advisor to the director general of CIRAD. Barret graduated in history (MA and PhD, Paris Sorbonne), and is an alumnus of the Ecole Normale Supérieure (Fontenay aux Roses).