She was previously a French senior civil servant and she specialises in Africa and development policies. Her most recent position was Inspector General at the Inspection Générale des Finances.

Prior to this, Mme. Delapalme served the French Government as an advisor on Africa, Development and Humanitarian policies, in the offices of various Foreign Affairs Ministers, between 1995-1997 and 2002-2007. She also served the French Senate as advisor for the Finance and Budgetary Commission, where she assessed a number of public expenditures and policies, notably in the development aid, foreign affairs, defense, education, environment, health and media sectors.

Educated in Paris at the Political Studies Institute and University Panthéon-Assas, Mme. Delapalme specialised in the public sector division and received a post-graduate diploma in applied economics. She focused particularly on the impact of demographic changes and international migrations.

Mme. Delapalme belongs to the editorial committee of the publication Commentaire and sits as a member on the boards of trustees for AMREF-France, Agrisud and the Elle Foundation. She has published several articles on the strategic evolution of Africa and relations between Africa and Europe.