Team

Abrhaley Gebrelibanos, Research Assistant for Tigray region, joined LIVES in September 2013. Abrhaley holds an MSc degree in Rural Development & Agricultural Extension and a BSc in Agricultural Extension, both from Haramaya University. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI he worked as a Rural Development and Agricultural Extension Researcher in Mekelle University. Abrhaley is based at the Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) office. Email: a.gebrelibanos@cgiar.org

 

 

Amenti Chali, Regional Expert – Irrigated Agriculture for Oromia region, joined LIVES in April 2014. Amenti holds an MSc in Agronomy from Hawassa University and a BSc in plant science from Alemaya University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI he worked as an Assistant Researcher in Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI) – Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center and agronomy and as an Irrigation Officer in the international Development enterprise (iDE). Amenti will be based in OARI in Addis Ababa. Email: a.chali@cgiar.org

 

 

 

Abule Ebro (PhD), Regional Coordinator for Oromia region, joined LIVES in March 2013. Abule holds a PhD in Grassland Science from University of Orange Free State, an MSc in Animal Production from Alemaya University and a BSc in Animal Sciences from Addis Ababa University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI, he worked as a Senior Researcher in the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI) – Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center. Abule will be based in OARI in Addis Ababa. Email: a.ebro@cgiar.org

 

 

Addisu Abera, Zonal Coordinator for West Shoa, Oromia, joined LIVES in May 2013. Addisu holds MSc & BSc degrees in Animal Breeding and Production from Alemaya University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI, he worked as a livestock Research Associate II in the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR). Addisu is based in the West Shoa Zonal Office of Agriculture in Ambo. Email: a.abera@cgiar.org

 

 

Amare Haileslassie (PhD), Senior Irrigation expert, joined LIVES in October 2014. Amare holds a PhD in nutrient cycling and soil fertility management from University of Gottingen, Germany in 2005. He has more than 20 years of development and research experiences. During his professional career Amare worked for various organizations at the capacity of irrigation agronomist, soil surveyor, watershed management planner, agricultural system ecologist and coordinator of river basin master plan studies and focal person for regional agricultural system research (South Asian Dryland System). He joined the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) East Africa sub-regional office in October 2014 as a senior irrigation expert. In LIVES, he leads and contributes to improved sourcing, delivery and management of irrigation water. Email: a.haileslassie@cgiar.org

 

Azage Tegegne (PhD), Project Manager, is a livestock scientist. He completed his PhD studies in animal reproduction at the Graduate School of Tropical Veterinary Science and Agriculture; James Cook University. Azage has over 25 years of experience in livestock research, education, rural development and mentoring of graduate students. He joined ILRI in 1989 as Manager of the ILRI Debre Zeit Research Station. Prior to LIVES, Azage served in the IPMS project as a livestock scientist.Email:  a.tegegne@cgiar.org

 

 

Beamlak Tesfaye, Knowledge Management and Communications Expert, joined LIVES as of August 2015.  She is a graduate in Political Sciences and International Relations and Print Journalism respectively from Addis Ababa University (AAU). In addition, she did her MSc in Sustainable Development at Uppsala University, Sweden. She has been working as a Development Outreach and Communications Specialist for USAID Agribusiness and Trade Expansion Program (USAID ATEP). She has also been involved with the Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE) project of ACDI/VOCA in Northern Ghana and an Environmental NGO, Afrika Kontact based in Copenhagen. Email: beamlak.tesfaye@cgiar.org

 

 

Berhanu Gebremedhin (PhD), Research Coordinator, is an Economist. He obtained a BSc in Agricultural Economics from Alemaya College of Agriculture and his MA & PhD from Michigan State University. His major research experiences include analysis of effectiveness of agricultural institutional support services; evaluation of the adoption and impact of agricultural technologies; analysis of the determinants of effective collective action for community natural resource management; and policy and institutional analysis of sustainable agricultural development. He joined ILRI in 1999. Prior to LIVES/ILRI, Berhanu served in IPMS as a policy/institutions analyst. Email: b.gebremedhin@cgiar.org

 

 

Birhanu Biazin (PhD), Regional Expert – Irrigated agriculture SNNP region, joined LIVES in June 2013. Birhanu holds a PhD in Rainwater Harvesting for Dry land Agriculture in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia, an MSc in Soil and Water from Wageningen University and a BSc in Forestry from Wondo Genet College of Forestry. Before joining LIVES/ILRI he was an Assistant Professor in Hawassa University – Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources. Birhanu is based at SARI in Hawassa. Email: b.biazin@cgiar.org

 

 

Dawit Woldemariam, Zonal Coordinator for Eastern Tigray Zone, joined LIVES in May 2013. Dawit holds an MA degree in Rural Development from Indira Gandhi National Open University and a BSc degree in Animal and Range Sciences from Mekelle University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI he was working as a consultant in the LIVES project and as a Livestock Expert with the Relief Society of Tigray (REST). Dawit is Based at Adigrat town. Email: d.woldemariam@cgiar.org

 

 

 

Dereje Legesse, Agribusiness Expert, joined LIVES in August 2013. Dereje holds an MSc in Microfinance from State University of Bergamo, Italy and a BA degree in Economics from Addis Ababa University. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI he was a Finance & Business Development Adviser in Fair and Sustainable Ethiopia. Dereje has experience in inclusive finance, business development, small and medium enterprise development, entrepreneurship, value chain finance, participatory project design, project management, monitoring and evaluation. Dereje is based at LIVES headquarters. Email:  d.legesse@cgiar.org

 

 

Dirk Hoekstra LIVES Senior Advisor, is an Agricultural Economist. He got his Ir degree from Wageningen Agriculture University in 1973. During his professional career, Dirk has worked for various organizations in numerous countries in agricultural development and research. Before joining ILRI in 2004 he worked as a project manager of a Dutch funded rural development project in South West Ethiopia, which initiated the sales of wild Kaffa forest coffee to Europe. In May 2004, he joined ILRI to lead the IPMS project that ran until 2013. Email:  d.hoekstra@cgiar.org

 

 

Ephrem Tessema (PhD), Gender Expert, joined LIVES in January 2013. Ephrem is trained as a social Anthropologist and has a PhD from The University of Basel, Switzerland, an MA in Social Anthropology and a BA in Literature from Addis Ababa University. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI, Ephrem held different positions in public offices (Ethiopian Parliament, Ethiopian Population Office under the Ministry of Finance and Economy) as well as NGOs (ACORD Ethiopia, NTFP Research and Development Project, Pastoralist Forum Ethiopia). Email: e.tesema@cgiar.org

 

Fitsum Hagos (PhD) has a PhD in Development and Resource Economics from the Agricultural University of Norway (2003). He has more than 15 years teaching and research experiences in the economics of development, research methodology, econometrics, water harvesting, food security and poverty, and land tenure & investment. He joined the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Nile Basin and East Africa sub-regional office in September 2006 where he has since been working as a researcher. In LIVES, he is working primarily on value chain analysis of selected vegetables and fruits. Email: f.hagos@cgiar.org 

 

Gebrehaweria Gebregziabher (PhD) has a PhD in Development and Resource Economics from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (2008). He is currently working as a Research Economist for the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). He is involved in the LIVES project with special emphasis on assessing the adoption and economics of smallholder irrigation technologies. Email: g.gebregziabher@cgiar.org

 

Gebremedhin Woldewahid (PhD), Regional Coordinator – Tigray, joined LIVES in January 2013. Gebremdhin holds a PhD in Production Ecology and Resources Conservation from Wageningen University, The Netherlands. Gebremedhin has been involved in a variety of research and development programs related to agronomic practices of irrigated and rain-fed crops. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI, he worked in the IPMS project of ILRI as well as the Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). Email: g.woldewahid@cgiar.org

 

Gemeda Duguma (PhD), Zonal Coordinator for Jimma Zone, joined LIVES in June 2013. Gemeda holds a PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from the University of BOKU, an MSc in Animal breeding from University of Stellenbosch and a BSc in Agriculture (Animal Sciences) from Alemaya University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI he was a senior Researcher in the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute – Bako Agricultural Research Center. Gemeda is based at the Zonal Office of Agriculture in Jimma. Email: g.duguma@cgiar.org

 

Habtemariam Assefa, Research Assistant for the Amhara Regional office, joined LIVES in July 2013. Habtemariam holds an MA degree in Regional and Local Development Studies from Addis Ababa University and a BSc in Agricultural Extension from Haramaya University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI he worked as Agricultural Economics, Extension and Gender Research Directorate Coordinator and Extension Researcher in the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI). Habtemariam is based in Bahir Dar. Email: h.assefa@cgiar.org 

 

Haile Tilahun, Zonal Coordinator for Central Tigray Zone, joined LIVES in May 2013. Haile holds an MSc in Rural Development from the National University of Ireland and Mekelle University and a BSc in Dry Land Agriculture (Crop Science) from Mekelle University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI he was Head of Agricultural and Rural Development in the Tigray Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development. Haile is based at Axum University in Axum. Email: h.tilahun@cgiar.org

 

 

Hailemichael Taye, Results Based Monitoring and Evaluation Expert, joined LIVES in June 2013. Hailemichael holds an MA degree in Development Evaluation from the University of Antwerp, Belgium and a BSc in Agricultural Extension from Haramaya University. Prior to joining LIVES he worked as a Research Technician in the Improving Market Opportunities – Innovation in Livestock Systems Theme of ILRI. Hailemichael is based at LIVES headquarters. Email: h.taye@cgiar.org

 

 

 

Kahsay Berhe, Research Officer, joined LIVES in January 2013. Kahsay holds an MSc degree in Environmental Science from Addis Ababa University. Prior to joining ILRI in 1987 as a Research Assistant, he worked for the Ministry of Agriculture and World Vision–Ethiopia as a Regional Agronomist and Project Manager. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI, he worked in the IPMS project as a Research Officer. Email: k.berhe@cgiar.org

 

 

 

Kaleb Shiferaw, Research Officer, joined LIVES in July 2013. Kaleb holds an MSc in economics specializing in Economics Policy Analysis Stream and a BA degree in Economics, both from Addis Ababa University. Before to joining LIVES/ILRI he worked as a Researcher for different consultancy firms and international NGOs. He has rich experience in developing research proposals and coordinating baseline and final evaluation studies. Kaleb is based at LIVES headquarters. Email: k.shiferaw@cgiar.org

 

 

Kindie Getnet (PhD), Agricultural Economist by profession, works as a Research Economist for the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). He supports the IWMI chapter of the LIVES project with special emphasis on assessing the economic feasibility of irrigated fodder. Email: k.getnet@cgiar.org

 

 

Mamusha Lemma (PhD), Capacity Development and Innovation expert, joined LIVES in February 2014. Prior to LIVES, he worked at the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) as a Senior Extension Technical Expert. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Sciences (Agricultural Knowledge Systems) from Hohenheim University,Germany and an MA in Rural Social Development from Reading University, UK. Email: m.l.woldegiorgis@cgiar.org

 

 

 

Mesfin Tefera, Zonal Coordinator for South Wollo, joined LIVES in June 2013. Mesfin holds an MSc degree in Forestry Management from Sofia University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI, he was working as a Program Director in Agri Service Ethiopia. Mesfin is based at the South Wollo Zonal Office of Agriculture in Dessie. Email: m.tefera@cgiar.org

 

 

 

Muluhiwot Getachew, Programme Coordinator, joined LIVES in 2013. Muluhiwot holds a BA degree in Business Administration from Towson State University and an MBA in International Business from the University of Baltimore, Maryland. She has worked in various organizations in different capacities and has diversified experience in administrative support and financial management. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI, she worked in the IPMS project as a Programme Management Officer. Email: m.getachew@cgiar.org

 

 

Nigatu Alemayehu (PhD), Zonal Coordinator for East Shoa, joined LIVES in January 2013. Nigatu has a PhD in Environmental Sciences from the University of South Africa. He has been involved in several research and development activities in serveral organizations. His experience in this capacity has been based on practical agriculture towards livelihood improvement and sustainable utilization of natural resources. Email: n.alemayehu@cgiar.org

 

 

Parmilia Yeshitella, Program Assistant, joined LIVES in January 2013. Parmilia has an MSc in Business Information Technolgoy and a post graduate diploma in human resource management from University of Mysore, India. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI Parmilia was working in the ICT center of excellence at the Addis Ababa University. Email: p.yeshitella@cgiar.org

 

 

 

Sintayehu Takele, Driver/Logistics Assistant, joined LIVES in December 2013. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI, Sintayehu worked in the British Council as a Driver and Administrative Assistant. Email: s.takele@cgiar.org

 

 

 

Simon Langan (PhD)  is a principal scientist and specializes in agricultural water management with a particular emphasis of working at a landscape and river basin scale. Within the LIVES project, Simon ensures that the work matches up and aligns with other research for development initiatives as well as guiding policy and best practice. Simon is a principal researcher and Head of Office for East Africa and Nile Basin of  IWMI. Email: s.langan@cgiar.org

 

 

 

Solomon Gizaw (PhD), livestock expert, joined LIVES in March 2014. Solomon did his PhD in Animal Genetics and Breeding at Wageningen University, The Netherlands. Prior to joining ILRI, Solomon worked as a senior researcher in livestock breeding and management and designing livestock interventions suited to smallholder systems at ARARI. Solomon was the coordinator of the national sheep research program of Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research as well. Email: s.gizaw@cgiar.org

 

Tesfaye Dubale, Zonal Coordinator for Gamo Gofa Zone, joined LIVES in May 2013. Tesfaye holds an MSc in Irrigation and Water Management from Wageningen University and a BSc in Agriculture (Plant Science) from Addis Ababa University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI, he worked as Acting Head for the Hawassa Plant Health laboratory at SNNPR Bureau of Agriculture. Tesfaye is based at the Gamo Gofa Zonal Office of Agriculture in Arbaminch. Email: t.dubale@cgiar.org

 

 

Tesfaye Shewage, Zonal Coordinator for Sidamma Zone, SNNPR, joined LIVES in May 2013. Tesfaye holds an MSc degree in Agriculture (Range Ecology and Management) from Alemaya University and a BSc degree in Agriculture (Animal Science) from Alemaya University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI, he worked as a Natural Resource Management Officer in Haramaya Oxfam GB. Tesfaye is based at the Southern Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in Hawassa. Email: t.shewage@cgiar.org

 

 

 

Teshome Derso, Zonal Coordinator for West Gojjam Zone, Amhara, joined LIVES in June 2013 . He has an MSc in Animal production and a BA in Economics. Prior to joining LIVES, he was a field value chain specialist in an ACDI/VOCA project, Research and Development Assistant in the IPMS project and an Animal Feed and Nutrition Researcher in ARARI. Teshome is based at the West Gojjam Zonal Office of Agriculture in Finote-selam. Email: t.derso@cgiar.org 

 

Worku Teka, Zonal Coordinator for North Gondar Zone, Amhara, joined LIVES in May 2013. Worku holds an MSc in Grain Storage Management from the University of Greenwich, England and a BSc in Agriculture (Plant Science) from Alemaya University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI he worked as a Sesame Value Chain Officer at USAID’s Agricultural Marketing Development (AMDe) Project. Worku is based at the Gondar Agricultural Research Center. Email: w.teka@cgiar.org

 

 

Yared Derbie, Research Assistant for Oromia Regional Office, joined LIVES in October 2015. Yared holds an MSc degree in Economics, Environment and Policy and a BSc in Economics, from Wageningen University and Unity University respectively. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI he worked for the Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research (EIAR) in different positions. Yared is based at the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI) office. Email: Y.Deribe@cgiar.org

 

 

Yasin Getahun, GIS Analyst, joined LIVES in January 2013. Yasin holds a BA in Geography from Kotebe College of Teacher Education.He also has a postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science from HiLCoE. Furthermore, he has taken short term training workshops on GIS-RS application and database management locally and abroad. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI, he was a GIS technician for the IPMS project of ILRI. Email: y.getahun@cgiar.org

 

 

Yayneshet Tesfay (PhD), Livestock Expert for Tigray region, joined LIVES in March 2013. Yayneshet holds a PhD in Animal Sciences from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, an MSc in Rural Resources Management from the University of Wales and a BSc in Animal Sciences from Alemaya University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI, he was an Associate Professor in Mekelle University. Yayneshet is based at the Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) office in Mekelle. Email: y.tesfay@cgiar.org

 

 

Yigzaw Dessalegn (PhD), Regional Coordinator – Irrigated Agriculture for the Amhara Regional office, joined LIVES in August 2013. Yigzaw holds a PhD in Plant Breeding from University of the Free State, Republic of South Africa, an MSc in Horticulture from the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, India and a BSc in Plant Science from Haramaya University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI, Yigzaw was the Deputy Director General of Amhara Region Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) and also a Research & Development Officer in Bure district, an IPMS project site.  Yigzaw is based at the Bahr Dar, LIVES Regional office. Email: y.dessalegn@cgiar.org

 

Yoseph Mekasha (PhD), Regional Coordinator – Livestock expert for SNNP, joined LIVES in May 2013. Yoseph holds a PhD in Animal Sciences (Animal Reproduction) from the Swedish University of Agricultural Science, an MSc in Animal Production and a BSc in Animal Sciences from Alemaya University. Before joining LIVES/ILRI, he was an Associate Professor at Haramaya University. Yoseph is based at Southern Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in Hawassa. Email: y.mekasha@cgiar.org

 

Zeleke Mekuriaw (PhD), Livestock Expert for the Amhara region, joined LIVES in March 2013. Zeleke holds a PhD in Animal Science (Animal Reproductive Technology) from the University of Free State, Republic of South Africa, an MSc in Animal Production as well as a BSc in Animal Sciences from Alemaya University. Prior to joining LIVES/ILRI, he was the Academic and Research Vice President of Debre Tabor University. Zeleke is based at the Amhara regional food security office in Bahir Dar. Email: z.mekuriaw@cgiar.org