Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
I do this work because I genuinely love serving people — and because I believe my generation has both the responsibility and the capacity to improve the human condition in ways that give our children a world of hope rather than one of suffering, indignity, and broken promise. I am a senior development leader with over 20 years of experience in Ethiopia, building government-integrated livelihoods systems, graduation programming, and social protection architecture at country, regional, and continental levels. My career spans GiveDirectly, Oxfam, Samaritan's Purse, IRC, USAID, and the Australian Embassy — across humanitarian response, livelihoods, governance, and social protection. I currently serve as Country Lead and Director for an international NGO operating in Ethiopia. In my current role, I work closely with the World Bank PSNP6 Multi-Donor Trust Fund, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Urban Infrastructure — leading the development of a $70 million programme plan submitted to a major international foundation, representing the largest prospective country investment in Ethiopia for this organisation. I am a published analyst of Ethiopian political economy — writing on fiscal policy, graduation systems, ethnic federalism, digital finance, and Ethiopia's homegrown reform agenda. I moderated a World Bank and Government of Ethiopia panel at the Sheraton Addis Ababa (June 2026) featuring two State Ministers and World Bank/IFC Division Directors. With over 20 years of practitioner depth in one of Africa's most complex operating environments, I am committed to contributing at the intersection of country-level implementation and regional or global policy and strategy — where the lessons of long-term, grounded development work can shape how organisations design, scale, and sustain impact across multiple contexts. I engage actively with peers, institutions, and partners across East Africa and beyond, and welcome conversations at the intersection of graduation programming, social protection systems, and systems-change leadership.
Leading an international NGO's Ethiopia country programme, established from the ground up in September 2024. Working closely with the World Bank PSNP6 Multi-Donor Trust Fund, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Urban Infrastructure to embed a Graduation methodology within Ethiopia's national social protection architecture. Key contributions: • Developed a $70 million programme architecture integrating PSNP (rural safety net and livelihoods) and UPSNJP (urban safety net and jobs) frameworks — submitted to a major international foundation as Ethiopia's flagship graduation and livelihoods investment case • Contributing to an active grant negotiation representing the largest prospective organisational investment in Ethiopia • Established MOU engagements with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Urban Infrastructure • Engaged the World Bank MDTF, Canadian Embassy, and European development partners to position the organisation as a systems-change actor within Ethiopia's donor ecosystem • Conducted a technical review of the PSNP6 Operations Manual, producing a structured gap analysis communicated to World Bank and government counterparts
Ongoing senior advisory and strategic engagement work conducted in a personal capacity — distinct from and parallel to full-time employment. Areas of engagement include: • Political economy analysis and strategic advisory for development and governance actors operating in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa • Strategic positioning and institutional engagement support for organisations navigating Ethiopia's complex regulatory and policy landscape • Thought leadership, writing, and public intellectual engagement on Ethiopian development policy, social protection architecture, and political economy — including published analytical work and panel moderation • Advisory engagement with civil society, diaspora networks, and private sector actors on development strategy and governance reform
Provided transitional advisory support following the closure of GiveDirectly's Ethiopia country programme, supporting knowledge transfer, institutional continuity, and the responsible conclusion of partnership commitments.
Led GiveDirectly's Ethiopia country establishment — including government registration with ACSO, regional state partnerships, National Cash Working Group positioning, banking and mobile money infrastructure, and a committed donor relationship. Secured a $4 million grant for an evidence-based cash transfer programme targeting vulnerable households. The programme was paused following a board-level organisational decision unrelated to programme performance.
Provided strategic and operational leadership across a $25 million humanitarian and development portfolio, overseeing 250 staff across multiple programme regions. Secured over $6.5 million in new institutional funding (EU, ECHO). Led humanitarian response during the Tigray conflict. Contributed to COP27 preparatory processes (2022) on climate adaptation and food security policy in the Horn of Africa. Championed locally-led programming and NRM-integrated livelihoods design across drought-vulnerable communities.
Executive oversight of a $5 million humanitarian and development portfolio, managing 4 international and 65+ national staff. Led COVID-19 and Tigray conflict responses, including extended periods in hard-to-reach conflict zones coordinating humanitarian corridors for displaced populations. Integrated NRM and water systems management into humanitarian response operations.