Prior to joining APHRC, Cheikh worked as a Program Officer at Agence Pour la Promotion des Activites de Population (APAPS) – Senegal, where he conducted several evaluation researches on HIV/AIDS, family planning, maternal and child health. He also worked as a Data Analyst for IntraHealth International and a Consultant for Population Council and World Food Program. Cheikh has more than ten years experience working on designing, implementing  and evaluating research projects in Senegal and other countries in West Africa.He holds a Master’s degree in Statistics (2001) from the Houari Boumediene University of Sciences and Technology (Algiers, Algeria). Cheikh’s experience includes research on reproductive health (behavioral surveys on HIV/STI in Senegal and Mauritania, post-abortion care, family planning), local development and poverty.