Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 15 years of experience in geospatial and environmental data analysis, the expert specializes in food security and climate change. With 12 years of leading GIS and remote sensing analysis and 8 years of utilizing Python and R for geospatial modeling, the expert has successfully led international projects in countries such as Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Responsibilities have included leading multi-stakeholder teams, developing tools for socio-economic decision-making, and conducting capacity building. Career highlights include prototyping decision-making tools and developing software for forest classification, showcasing expertise in project management, technical analysis, and stakeholder engagement.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving collaboration with USAID on a large, federally funded initiative at the Sustainability Innovation Lab of Colorado. This project focused on agricultural innovation and conservation agriculture uptake in Senegal and Cambodia, involving project implementation, capacity building, and technical assistance. Additionally, the expert engaged with the Nature Conservancy through the Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP) initiative, leading efforts in zero-deforestation landscapes in Indonesia. This work involved multi-stakeholder collaboration and technical analysis using remote sensing for sustainable supply chains.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in rural development, environment and natural resource management, food security, poverty reduction, mapping and cadastre, research, and agriculture, the expert has held roles such as project leader, analyst, and consultant. Responsibilities have included geospatial and environmental data analysis, software development, and stakeholder engagement. The expert's interdisciplinary expertise spans digitalization in agriculture and infrastructure in rural development, with a geographic scope covering regions including Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Extensive geographic experience across Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Uganda highlights a robust understanding of local governance and regional development challenges.

Languages and education

With a background in both Amharic and English, the expert is fluent in these languages, utilizing them in diverse professional settings. This includes international fieldwork and collaboration with multilingual teams in countries such as Ethiopia and Cambodia, supporting effective communication in research, stakeholder engagement, and training delivery across various international development projects. Educational qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Science in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Rice University, USA. This educational background provides a strong foundation in geographical and mathematical analysis, contributing to proficiency in geospatial and environmental research.