Prof. Chemeda Fininsa (PhD)
General Manager, Agriculture and Environiment Focus Area Leader
cfininsa@gmail.com | +251980126938
Professor Chemeda Fininsa earned PhD in Agriculture (Plant Pathology) from Swedish University of Agriculture, Uppsala Sweden; MPhil in Agriculture (Plant Pathology) from University of Wales, Bangor, the UK; BSc in Biology from Asmara University, Asmara, Eritrea; and various professional training Certificates including in Agricultural Research for Development, Good Agricultural Practices, Curriculum Development, Higher Education Leadership and Management, and others from higher learning and research institutions. He has served for many years in higher learning institutions from Lecturer to Professor. He has served in management and leadership positions as University President, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean, Department Head and coordinator of many development, research and capacity development projects successfully and productively. He has authored and co-authored more than 135 publications including a textbook in different channels and consulted on agricultural research for development and capacity development. He is Fulbright, USA Visiting Scholar; Experienced Research Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany; Fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences; member, Ethiopian Plant Protection Society, and member, Ethiopian Professors’ Association.
Prof. Nega Assefa (PhD)
Public Health Focus Area Leader
negaassefa@yahoo.com | +251915321136
Prof. Nega Assefa is a Professor of Maternal and Child Health. He earned a PhD in Public Health from Harmaaya University, Master of Public Health-Reproductive Health Track from Addis Ababa University, and BSc in Nursing from Jimma University. He had trainings on advanced observational study from Bergen University, Norway; Maternal Health Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA, and Global Health Executive Leadership Program from London School of Hygiene sand Tropical Medicine, UK. Professor Nega was a Director of Harar and Haramaya Health and Demographic Surveillance (HDSS) systems, one of the largest surveillance systems in Africa, for more than 12 years. He has led Hararghe Health Research (HHR) partnerships, a research collaborative effort between Haramaya University and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which has led to the birth of a state-of-the-art research laboratory that conducts microbiology, molecular diagnostics and histopathology and provides diagnostic services for Hiwot Fana University Hospital in Harar city. Professor Nega has been a co-principal investigator for the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Ethiopia project. In collaboration with his colleagues, he has been able to secure grants from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other granting agencies, contributing to the advancement of health sciences, building human resources and infrastructures.
Mulugeta Damie (PhD)
Deputy Manager of Marketing and Promotion and Resource person for the Business and Economics Theme
muliewe@gmail.com | +251924370625
Dr. Mulugeta Damie earned his PhD Degree in Agricultural Economics (Value Chain Management) from the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; MBA Degree and BA Degree in Accounting and Finance from the Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Certificates in various professional training programs including Leadership and Chain Management provided by North West University in South Africa, Regional Development Planning by GIZ and Addis Ababa University; Plunge into Your Business Plan by Ghent University; International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by Accountants and Auditors Board of Ethiopia (AABE), Geo-Enabling for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) by the World Bank Group; Farm Income Simulator (FARMSIM) by ACE Climate SABC and TEXAS A & M University to mention just a few. He has served in higher learning institutions for many years starting with the academic rank of Graduate Assistant and presently working as an Associate Professor of Value Chain Managemnt. He has served in management and leadership positions as Dean and Associate Dean of the College, Head of an Academic Department and Head of the Procurement Division at the University. He had also served as member of the Administrative Board of Harar Brewery Share Company in Ethiopia. He has been also servicing as a Project Manager at the African Center of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation (ACE Climate SABC) established through a competitive loan grant obtained from the World Bank. He has been providing several trainings on leadership and followership, inventory and stock management, project management, record keeping to mention some among the many. He has authored and co-authored over 10 scientific papers on reputable journals. He is the member of the Ethiopian Management Professionals Association (EMPA) and Project Management Institute (MPI), USA.
Zelalem Bayisa (PhD)
Deputy General Manager and Business and Economics focus area leader
zb.gurmessa@gmail.com | +251911709181
Dr. Zelalem Bayisa earned PhD in Human Resource Management from University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Master of Business Administration (MBA) and BA in Management and Public Administration (Business Stream) from Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and various professional training Certificates including in Leadership and Management, Management of Change for Organizational Transition-CM, Training Facilitation Skills, Scientific Research Writing Skills, and others from higher learning and research institutions. He has served for many years in higher learning institutions as Lecturer and Assistant Professor. He has also served in management and leadership positions as Dean, Director of Human Resources, and Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, and Head of Department. He has authored and co-authored several research based articles on reputable journals and presented papers in international conferences. He offered various trainings to public and private sectors on various topics. He also consulted various organizations on different areas including Organizational Design and Structure. He is a member of Ethiopian Management Professionals Association (EMPA) and Ethiopian Public Administration Professionals Association.
Feyera Dinsa (PhD)
Education and Social Development Focus Area Leader
feyera2009@gmail.com | +251939407468
Dr. Feyera Dinsa is an Assistant Professor of Education. He earned his PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Haramaya University, Ethiopia, MSc in Educational Science and Technology from University of Twente, the Netherlands, and BEd in English Language Education from Haramaya University, Ethiopia. He also participated in a number of training opportunities in higher learning institutions and schools as a trainee and a trainer such as Higher Education Leadership and Management, Curriculum Development Modularization, Educational Assessment and Evaluation, Staff Induction and Mentoring and others. He has served as a Director for Postgraduate Programs Directorate, Director for Academic Programs Development and Admission, Coordinator of Academic Development and Resource Centre, Coordinator for Summer Education Programs of EdPM, and Head of Oromo Language Department at Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
Tilahun Shiferaw (MSc)
Information Communication Technology (ICT) Focus Area Leader
shiferaw.tilahun@gmail.com | +251928073582
Mr. Tilahun Shiferaw earned MSc and BSc in Information Science from Jimma University, Ethiopia. He received certificates in R, Python for AI, CCNA, Virtual Desk Top Infrastructure Management, Electronic Medical Record and DHIS2, eCHIS, and MathLab. He is an expert on digital and information literacy. He was engaged in several national and worldwide research projects. His areas of expertise are software application development and digital transformations. He has worked as an assistant professor and lecturer in higher education for over ten years. He has participated in several significant research and innovation projects funded by the USAID. He has authored multiple scholarly publications on subjects linked to digital transformation, data, IT, management information systems, and artificial intelligence. As the coordinator of the eHealth team at Haramaya University’s Capacity building and mentorship program, he has carried out multiple pre- and post-implementation research and maturity assessments for eHealth systems in eastern Ethiopia as part of that initiative. He also acts as the main contact for the USAID-funded small grant initiative called EMR center of excellence. He has spent the last five years working as a manager at IT Tech Solution PLC. He is a standing committee member of IFLA at USA, and served as vice president of the African Libraries and Information Services Association.
Ebrahim Seid (MSc)
Communication officer
ebrahimhu@gmail.com | +2519315041451
Mr. Ebrahim Seid is an Acumen fellow with a demonstrated history of leadership and consultancy services. He has been serving the community in a various capacity with a focus on youth, public health, and agriculture. He served as the programming coordinator for the FHI-360 initiatives at Haramaya University as well as the Associate Director of the UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Project. He is also one of the founders of the Haramaya University Community Radio Station (HU FM91.5), among other things. He has also worked in Public and International Relations Directorate as an Alumni Relations Officer. He earned MSc degree in Agricultural Communication and Innovation and BSc in Agricultural Engineering and Management from Haramaya University. He has completed Strategic Foresight course from International Leadership University and English for Journalism course from the University of Pennsylvania IDSS: Texas A&M and UF