Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 18 years of experience in program and project management, the expert specializes in youth empowerment, gender equality, and social inclusion. They have led both international and local initiatives, effectively securing multi-million-dollar funding and increasing program funding from 35% to 80%. Previously held roles such as Country Director and Work Readiness and Skill Development Lead, their responsibilities have included providing strategic guidance and capacity building. Career highlights include developing national policies and frameworks, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and ensuring compliance with donor expectations.

Project experience and donor exposure

The expert has collaborated with prominent international donors such as the UN, World Bank, USAID, DFID, EU/ECHO, and UNICEF. Their involvement spans project implementation, technical assistance, and capacity building in thematic areas like youth empowerment, social inclusion, and employment. Projects have been both national and regional, particularly in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Bangladesh. They have successfully secured multi-million-dollar partnerships and led strategic initiatives to align with donor expectations and compliance requirements.

Sectors and geographic focus

Worked across key sectors including civil society and NGOs, gender, labor market and employment, social development, and youth empowerment. Responsibilities have included strategic planning, project implementation, and capacity building in leadership roles such as Country Director and Program Manager. Their cross-cutting expertise includes integrating digital communication platforms in development programs. The expert's geographic scope includes Ethiopia, Kenya, and Bangladesh, with significant contributions to national and regional initiatives focused on social inclusion and economic empowerment. Extensive geographic experience also covers Uganda and Thailand, with a particularly deep familiarity with Ethiopian governance and cultural dynamics. Over 14 years of work in Ethiopia have provided a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political and economic landscape, enhancing their ability to address regional development issues effectively.

Languages and education

With a background in language proficiency, the expert is fluent in English (C2) and a native speaker of Amharic. These language skills have been utilized extensively in international work settings, collaborating with multilingual teams and engaging in program management across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Bangladesh. Additionally, they have a basic proficiency in Oromiffa and French (A2), enhancing their ability to work in diverse linguistic environments. The expert holds an MA in Sociology from Haramaya University, Ethiopia (2014-2016), a BA in Psychology from Gonder University, Ethiopia (2004-2006), and is an MBA graduate candidate at Maharishi International Open University, USA (2022-2024). Additionally, they have obtained a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from HUMUNTUM, United Kingdom (2018).