Myriam Dossou D'Almeida

Myriam Dossou D'Almeida began her studies at the Protestant College of Lomé and obtained her Baccalauréat in 1985 at Tokoin High School in Lomé.^[1] She started studying pharmacy at the University of Reims-Champagne-Ardenne but did not complete her degree. She then turned to insurance and joined the École nationale d'assurances (Paris), where she graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2005.^[2] She taught there from 2008 to 2014.^[1] She also graduated from the African Insurance Institute in Tunis.^[3]

Throughout her career, De Souza-D'Almeida worked for several insurance companies, including GTA-C2A IARD, the broker Marsh France^[4] and the New Inter-African Insurance Company.^[3] She then moved into reinsurance, notably at AXA^[2] in the Sub-Saharan Africa and Maghreb departments.^[1]

She was later Director General of the National Health Insurance Institute (INAM) from 2012^[5] or 2013^[6] to 2020. During these eight years, she implemented several projects, including universities for the elderly and extending health insurance to market women, students, and journalists.^[5] Her economic management of the institute was heavily criticized following an audit by the state inspector general, confirming reports from an internal audit in December 2018.^[7] She was also accused of double spending.^[8]

She succeeded Victoire Tomegah Dogbé as Minister of Grassroots Development and Youth when the latter became prime minister.^[9][10] She then left INAM^[6] and focused on promoting youth entrepreneurship^[11][12][13] and combating substance abuse.^[14] Her term has notably seen a significant increase in the creation of micro-enterprises among the youth.^[15]