Meet our staff
Dr. Tadele Tefera
Country Head of the icipe Ethiopia Office
Email: ttefera@icipe.org
Dr. Tadele Tefera is Country Head of the icipe Ethiopia Office; he provides leadership to staff on-site as well as oversight of icipe’s research portfolio in Ethiopia. Reporting to the Director General of icipe, he is part of a multidisciplinary team providing leadership and research strategy to icipe’s Ethiopia Office, and establishing collaborative linkages with national, regional and international institutions in the relevant fields of research. His team was awarded the outstanding team of the year 2017 award by icipe management.
Previously, Dr Tefera worked as a regional project leader and senior entomologist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Nairobi Kenya, from 2009 to 2015, where he mainly focused on developing insect-resistant maize hybrids and inbred lines and effective technology for integrated postharvest pest management.
Dr Tefera was a research fellow of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Foundation at Gottingen University, Germany, from 2008 to 2009. He worked as Associate Professor and Director of Agricultural Research and Extension at Haramaya University from 2004 to 2008. He also worked as a consultant for the World Bank in evaluating the Africa Stockpiles Programme conducted in 6 African countries in 2015. He is a former editor-in-chief (2005 to 2008) of the East African Journal of Sciences. Currently, he is a governing board member of the International Association for the Plant Protection Science (IAPPS).
Tadele has vast experience in biological control of insect pests, breeding for insect resistance, genetically modified maize, environmental safety of GMO, biopesticides, postharvest pest management, integrated pest management and agroecology. He has mentored over 30 post-docs, PhD and MSc students. He has authored over 100 publications, including books, book chapters and articles in referred journals, and has one patent right from his research findings. His publications have been cited 3,382 times with h-index of 31.
Dr Tefera obtained his PhD in Agricultural Entomology in 2004 from Stellenbosch University, and his MSc in Crop Protection in 1998 and BSc in Agriculture (Plant Sciences) in 1993, both from Haramaya University.
Dr. Workneh Ayalew
Programme Coordinator of MOYESH
Email: wayalew@icipe.org
Dr Workneh Ayalew is the Programme Coordinator of the MOre Young Entrepreneurs in Honey and Silk (MOYESH) Programme, and leads a few other projects.
He joined icipe after having served the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) on secondment from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) as Director of the Livestock Value Chains. Major responsibilities of the position were: overall direction of the livestock value chains interventions; identification and prioritisation of livestock development interventions; developing and promoting coherent stakeholder participation; facilitation of resource mobilisation, assessing of major capacity gaps and monitoring of performance on interventions.
Prior to this, Dr Ayalew worked for eight years in Papua New Guinea, as the Deputy Director General (Research) of the country’s National Agricultural Research Institute, and as Livestock Research and Development Coordinator and Principal Livestock Scientist. Previously, he held positions in the ILRI–Ethiopia office, FARM-Africa and Alemaya University, Ethiopia.
He holds a PhD in animal production and breeding from the Georg-August University of Goettingen in Germany (2000), MSc in animal breeding from Alemaya University in Ethiopia (1992) and BSc (Honours) in animal sciences from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia (1984).
Dr. Menale Kassie
Principal Scientist and Head of the Social Sciences and Impact Assessment Unit
mkassie@icipe.org
Dr. Menale Kassie received a Ph.D. in Development Economics from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Norway). He has over 14 years of research experience, with sound knowledge in impact assessment tools, project management experience, and leadership.
Currently, Kassie is a Principal Scientist and Head of the Social Sciences and Impact Assessment Unit at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology. He has previously worked for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and for government organizations in Ethiopia. His research seeks to understand (a) the adoption and impact of multiple-agricultural interventions on farm household welfare, environment, and gender; (b) sources of gender gaps in agricultural technology adoption and food security; (c) how women’s empowerment impacts food security and performance of technologies; and (d) the role of insects in green growth, food security and nutrition, employment, and economic development.
Lulseged Belayhun
Program manager
Email: lbelayhun@icipe.org
Mr Lulseged Belayhun joined icipe Ethiopia Office in 1997, and he has since worked on various projects being implemented by the Centre in Gurage Zone, Assosa, Keto, Shewa Robit, and more recently in Tolay, focusing on: the control of tse tse flies and trypanosomiasis; malaria; maize stem borers and striga.
Since 2011, he has been managing the icipe community beekeeping project in Tolay, whose major activities are: introducing improved beekeeping technologies; control of bee diseases and pests and testing of bee pollination services. currently he is working in three projects YESH, MoYESH and Biovision beekeeping program manager. Previously, Mr Belayhun worked for the Tana Beles Development Project as a field officer.
He holds an MSc (2013) in Rural Development from St Mary University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and a BSc (2000) in Agriculture and Rural Development from Alpha University. He has written scientific publications and co-authored four scientific papers, one working book and five training manuals written in local Ethiopian languages.
Esayas Mulatu Morka
Sr. Deputy Programme Coordinator of MOYESH
Email: emulatu@icipe.org
Mr Esayas Mulatu Morka is the Sr. Deputy Programme Coordinator of the MOre Young Entrepreneurs in Honey and Silk (MOYESH) Programme. Previously, he was the Business Development Manager for the Young Entrepreneurs in Honey and Silk (YESH) project, the Agribusiness Development Officer at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT- Ethiopia). The main responsibilities of the position included: facilitating the commercialisation of two-wheeled tractors through the private sector; developing business models for smallholder farmers to access the technology; assessing demand for hiring the services; evaluating the financial viability of the technology, and developing partnership and collaboration between the value chain actors. Previously, Mr Morka worked for the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency as Senior Technical Expert for Output Marketing. Prior to this, he held positions as Livelihood Advisor and Small & Medium Enterprise Development Officer at GIZ, and as Value Chain & Financial Services Officer at Mercy Corps. Mr Morka holds an MBA from Sikkim Manipal University, India; a Postgraduate Diploma in Rural Development from Weitz Centre for Sustainable Development, Israel, and a BSc degree in Industrial Engineering from Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia. His expertise includes agribusiness development, value chain analysis, business model development, enterprise development and facilitation of private sector engagement in agribusiness.
Bedaso Taye
Sr. Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning Specialist Of MOYESH
Email: btaye@icipe.org
Mr Bedaso Taye is the Sr. Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning Specialist of the MOre Young Entrepreneurs in Honey and Silk (MOYESH) and the Youth Entrepreneurship in Silk and Honey (YESH) project. The focus of his job will be on developing and implementing M&E frameworks, supervising baseline and monitoring surveys, and organize evaluation and impact assessment studies. Previously he had served as lecturer and Head of the Economics Department in Mada Walabu University, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, He also worked for Sasakawa Global 2000 initiative in Ethiopia as Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Sharing Program officer, for the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) as Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation advisor, where he led the design and finalization of agricultural sector Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II, 2015-2020).
Bedaso Taye received his first degree in Economics from Arba Minch University in 2007 and his MSc degree in Resource and Environmental Economics from Addis Ababa University in 2010. Moreover, he attended several high-level training in M&E and impact assessment; Participatory Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation-M4I at Wageningen University Center for Development Innovation in 2014, Technical Approaches to Impact Evaluation from 3ie and World Bank in 2013, and Result Based Monitoring and Evaluation at the Uganda Management Institute and Danida Fellowship Center in 2015.
Nebiyu Solomon
Programme and Administration Manager
Email: nsolomon@icipe.org
Mr Nebiyu Solomon is a Programme and Administration Manager at icipe Ethiopia Country Office. He previously worked for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) as an Administration Manager. He has over 15 years of professional work experience in non-governmental, governmental, and private organizations.
The main responsibility of the position includes managing the overall administration and finance functions of icipe Ethiopia Office, overseeing the preparation of budgets, activity plans for programmes and Country Office, facilitates linkages of projects within Programme for efficient and effective utilization resources; develop and review policies and procedures, systems for the efficient and effective management of icipe Ethiopia Office activities.
Dr. Freweini Assefa
Deputy Program Coordinator
Email: fassefa@icipe.org
Dr. Freweini Assefa obtained her BSc in Agriculture (Animal Science) from the then Alemaya University of Agriculture, MSc in Animal Science from the University of New England, New South Wales, Australia and PhD in Animal Nutrition from Haramaya University. She worked for Illu Ababore and Tigray Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development from 1989 to 2010 at various capacities (from expert to regional deputy bureau head of agriculture and rural development), and from 2015 to March 2020 as team leader for livestock resource development in the headquarter of Ethiopian Sugar Corporation. She joined icipe as of April 6, 2020, as Deputy Program Coordinator – of Apiculture and Sericulture Development, based in Addis Ababa.
Getachew Wudu
Human Resources Manager
Email: gwudu@icipe.org
Mr. Getachew Wudu holds BA degree in Management from Jimma University and holds MA in Public Administration from Indra Gandhi Open University, IGNOU. He worked for Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation as Junior HR Officer, Section Head and Senior HR Officer, respectively. He worked for Plan International Ethiopia as HR Officer/Coordinator and worked for ILRI as People and Organizational Development Officer. He joined icipe on the 1st of May 2020 as Human Resources Manager.
Mersen Bizuneh
Human Resources officer
Email: mbizuneh@icipe.org
Mersen Bizuneh obtained her BA in Management and MA in Human Resource Management from Addis Ababa University. She worked for Ethiopian Airlines Company as Team Leader HR Planning and Reports, Senior HR Specialist, Senior Change Management Officer II, HR Generalist, Junior HR Generalist, Assistant HR Generalist from 2011-2018; for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) company as Senior Human Resources Assistant from 2018-2019. Overall, she has 8 years and 10 months of professional experience in Human Resources and Administration. She joined icipe as of April 1, 2020, as Human Resources officer of the MOYESH Program, based in Addis Ababa.
Melat Mebratu
Financial Inclusion officer
Email: mmebratu@icipe.org
Melat Mebratu obtained her BA in Finance and Development Economics from an MA in project management from Addis Ababa University School of Commerce. She worked for RTI International as a country lead advisor from 2019 – 2020; for MOSS ICT Consultancy (M-Birr) as a project manager from 2018 – 2019; for Agricultural Transformation Agency as a rural finance expert from 2014 – 2018 and for Asku PLC as a Market Researcher from 2013 – 2014. She joined icipe as of May 1, 2020, as Financial Inclusion officer of the MOYESH Program, based in Addis Ababa.
Rahel Solomon
Market Linkage officer
Email: rsolomon@icipe.org
Rahel Solomon obtained her BA in Economics from Mekele University and MA in Environment and Development from Addis Ababa University. She worked as a Researcher at Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI) (now Policy Studies Institute (PSI) on various projects (eg. Economic Policy Analysis Unit (EPAU), International Growth Center (IGC), Environment and Climate Research Center (ECRC)) from 2008-2020; for Ethiopian Trading Enterprise currently Alle Bejimla as a Senior Market Specialist from January 2013 to December 2013. She has also worked as Consultant in ICARDA/ILRI research team from July 2016 – October 2016 and April 2018 – May 2018. She joined icipe as of May 20, 2020, as Research Officer (Market Linkage) of the MOYESH Program, based in Addis Ababa.
Emebet Techane
Enterprise and Business Development officer
Email: etechane@icipe.org
Emebet Techane obtained her BA in Management from Haremaya University and MA in Marketing Management from Addis Ababa University, She worked for Haremaya university as Senior Business Lecturer from 2009-2015 and she worked for Care Ethiopia as a BDS officer from 2015-2017; for UNDP, EDC as UNCTAD certified National trainer and BDS advisor from 2017-2020. She joined icipe as of May 20, 2020, as Enterprise and Business Development officer of the MOYESH Program, based in Addis Ababa.
Mahlet Mezemer
Research Officer II – Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Email: mmezemer@icipe.org
Mahlet Mezemer obtained her Bsc in Management Information System from Unity University and MA in Business Administration from Jimma University. She worked for the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency as Project Officer – Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning from 2016-2020. She joined icipe as of June 1, 2020, as Research Officer II – Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning of the MOYESH Program, based in Addis Ababa.
Beniam Berhane
Safeguarding Manager
Email: bberhane@icipe.org
Beniam Berhane obtained his BA in Sociology and Social Administration (SOSA) from Addis Ababa University and Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from Indira Gandhi National Open University. He has over 15-years of professional work experience. Beniam worked for GOAL Ethiopia with the capacity of senior Partnership and Protection Advisor from October 2012 to March 2020; PRO PRIDE as Education and Livelihoods Promotion Program Officer from Jan 2008 to July 2012. He joined icipe as of April 9, 2020, as Safeguarding Manager for the MOYESH Program, based in Addis Ababa.
Desalegne Tadesse
Communication Officer
Email: dtadesse@icipe.org
Desalegne Tadesse is the Communication Officer of the MOre Young Entrepreneurs in Honey and Silk (MOYESH) and YESH project. He also works on few other projects. He holds BA degree in Information Systems, from Addis Ababa University and holds MA in Journalism & Communication from Addis Ababa University. He worked for International Water Management Institute (IWMI): East Africa & Nile Basis Office as Communications & Outreach Officer, and for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Delegation to the African Union as Senior Communication Officer. He has been working with icipe since March 2017 as a communication specialist.
Abdi Etafa
Research officer-II (gender Expert)
Email: aetafa@icipe.org
Mr. Abdi Etafa has been recruited as Research officer-II (gender Expert) under the MOYESH Program-icipe Ethiopia office based at Addis Ababa. He joined icipe on 15th April 2022.
Mr. Abdi is an Ethiopian national and holds an MSc from Haramaya University in Rural Development. He served as researcher, lecturer, Capacity development associate, rural development, and social inclusion expert, gender and extension advisor from 2009 onwards and that time was a time when he worked on gender issues in development at GOs and NGOs.
Kalabe Mulugeta
Business Support Officer II (Information Management Officer III)
Email: Kmulugeta@icipe.org
Mr. Kalabe Mulugeta has been recruited as a Business Support Officer II (Information Management Officer III) under the MOYESH Programme – icipe Ethiopia office based at Addis Ababa. He joined icipe on 4th January 2023.
Mr. Kalabe is an Ethiopian national and holds BSc from Addis Ababa University in Computer Science and MSc in Computer Science from Ambo university. He served as a Lecturer from 2012-2022 for Higher Institutions and 2016-2022 was a time when he worked in several positions as Software Developer and Consultant for Private Firms as a part-time employee.
Meklit Assefa
Amhara Regional Manager
Email: massefa@icipe.org
Meklit Assefa obtained her B.Sc in Biology from Bahir Dar University and M.Sc in plant biology and biodiversity management from Addis Ababa University in 2013. She worked for Kotebe College of Teacher Education as a graduate assistant from 2011- 2013 and for the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate change Commission as a Senior forest management expert from 2015-2020. She joined icipe as of June 15, 2020, as Regional Manager of the MOYESH program, based in Bahir Dar.
Teshome Kumela
Oromia Regional Manager
Email: tkumela@icipe.org
Teshome Kumela obtained his Diploma in General Agriculture from Jimma Agricultural College, BA in Economics from Jimma University and MSC in Economics from Jimma University. He worked for Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) as technical assistant and researcher from 1994 – 2014; for icipe as project coordinator and scientist (consultant) from 2014 – 2018. He re-joined icipe as of March 16, 2020, as Oromia Regional Manager of the MOYESH Program, based in Jimma – Ethiopia.
Henok Mechal
SNNPR Regional Manager
Email: hmechal@icipe.org
Mr. Henok Mechal obtained his Bsc Degree in agricultural resource economics and management from Hawassa university and his MSC in Agricultural economics from Haramaya university. Henok previously worked at ATA as a senior livestock value chain development specialist and joint icipe on 1st of April 2020 as SNNPR Regional Program Manager of MOre Young Entrepreneurs in Honey and Silk (MOYESH) based in Hosaena station.
Melkamu Tadesse
Business Support Officer II (Accountant)
Email: mtadesse@icipe.org
Mr. Melkamu Tadesse obtained his BA in accounting from Aksum University and BA in Economics from Bahir Dar University. He worked for ZOA /from relief to recovery/ as Senior Finance Officer from 2017-2020; for Innovative Humanitarian Solution /IHS/ as Finance and Administration Officer from 2015-2017, for International Rescue Committee /IRC/ as Finance Assistant from 2013 – 2015, for Kaleheyewet Church Development program as Accountant from 2007- 2013, for Manbuk TVET as Purchasing and Supplies Management Instructor from 2004 – 2007. He joined icipe as of June 15, 2020, as Business Support Officer II /Accountant/ of the MOYESH Program, based in Bahir Dar.
Endale Hailu
Research Officer II (Sericulture)
Email: ehailu@icipe.org
Endale Hailu obtained his Diploma in Forestry from Debub University Wondo Genet College of Forestry, BA in Development Management and MA in Leadership and Good Governance from Ethiopian Civil Service University as well as his MSc in Especial Economic Animal Rearing (Agronomy of Sericulture) from Jiangsu University of Science and Technology Zhenjiang, China. He worked for the Agriculture Office as Development Agent, Team Leader and Deputy head office from 2003-2011; Bere private limited company as Technical Manager, from 2013-2015; and for icipe as Field Assistant from 2016-2017. He rejoined icipe as of July 1, 2020, as a Research Officer II (Sericulture) of the MOYESH Program, based at Arba Minch.
Engdawork Abebe
Driver/ Logistic Assistant
Email: eabebe@icipe.org
Engdawork Abebe obtained his Diploma in General Mechanics from Hawassa Technical School. He worked for ILRI/LIVES Project as a Driver from 2014-2016; for JSI/ IFHP (Integrated Family Health Program as a Driver from August -December 2016; for JSI Research & Training Institute INC, Transform primary Health Care Project as a Driver from 2017- 2020, He joined icipe as of June 15, 2020, as Research Assistant II ( Driver/ Logistic Assistant) of the MOYESH Program, based in Hosanna.
