AKLDP Team

Tufts University – Africa Regional Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Dr.Berhanu Admassu, Chief of Party – as Chief of Party Dr. Admassu oversees all of the AKLDP project activities, as well as liaising with a range of government and university partners, aid donors and NGOs. He is also the Feinstein International Center’s expert on regional and international policy reform in the livestock sector in Africa and animal disease control. He was previously the coordinator of Tufts policy and institutional support to the USAID Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative. Internationally, he is known for his pioneering work on rinderpest eradication in Ethiopia. He holds a DVM from the University of Addis Ababa and a MSc in Tropical Veterinary Medicine from the University of Edinburgh Email Berhanu Admassu

Dr.Demese Chanyalew – an independent consultant based in Addis Ababa, Dr. Chanyalew has over 25 years of research and consulting experience covering agriculture sub-sectors, and agriculture sector-wide analysis and policy. His clients include UNECA, USAID, World Bank, COMESA, EU, AfDB, international NGOs, UNDP and FAO. Dr. Chanyalew’s analysis and reviews have shaped the Ethiopia CAADP program, and he remains a key resource person for REDFS and donors involved in agricultural development and food security in Ethiopia. He holds a PhD from Kansas State University. Email Demese Chanyalew

Tsion Fisseha – provides operational and logistics support to AKLDP activities in Ethiopia. Before joining the project, Ms. Fisseha worked in the private sector, including work in the travel industry. She holds a BA from the University of Mumbai. Email Tsion Fisseha

Dr. Bewket Siraw – is Senior Livestock Advisor at the AKLDP, and has over 27 years of experience in development and research.Before joining AKLDP Dr. Bewket was working as Chief Veterinary Officer and OIE (World Animal Health Organization) delegate for Ethiopia. He has also worked as Director of Livestock Research and Head of Livestock Resources Development Department in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Dr. Bewket holds a DVM degree from Addis Ababa University and MSc degree from University of London through a joint program between the Royal Veterinary College and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Email Bewket Siraw

Dr. Amdissa Teshome – Dr. Amdissa Teshome is an independent consultant based in Addis Ababa, with 30 years of work experience in Ethiopia, and clients including USAID, World Bank, DFID, IGAD and NGOs. He specializes in food security programming and policy, and he has reviewed and evaluated aspects of the Productive Safety Net Programme and Household Asset Building Programme in Ethiopia, and remains very engaged with the strategies and activities of these programs. He is also a very experienced reviewer and evaluator of agriculture and food security programs in Ethiopia. Dr. Teshome was the Country Coordinator of the Future Agricultures Consortium and worked closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to facilitate policy dialogues on extension systems, farmer organizations, social protection and climate change. Dr. Amdissa has designed and delivered trainings to NGOs in Ethiopia on gender equity and sensitivity, and much of his support to program design, review and evaluation has included gender analysis. Email Amdissa Teshome

Dr. Fentahun Mengistu – is a Senior Agronomist at AKLDP, with over 28 years of experience in agricultural research and research leadership. He previously served as Director General of the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Director General of Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, and Director of Adet Agricultural Research Center in Amhara Region of Ethiopia. He has worked as a senior researcher in crop protection, horticultural crops agronomy and breeding, and related fields. He has also been involved in high-level governance bodies, consultancy, teaching and examining post-graduate students, and served as a board member and Second Vice Chairman of the East African regional research organization, ASARECA. Dr. Mengistu holds a PhD degree in Agricultural Science at Boku University of Austria, MSc degree in Horticulture at IARI of India, and a BSc in Agriculture/plant Sciences at Alemaya University of Agriculture in Ethiopia. Email Fentahun Mengistu

Tufts University – USA

Andy Catley – a Research Director at Tufts University, Dr. Catley provides research, policy and analytical support to the AKLDP and is the Principal Investigator for the project at Tufts. He holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh.

Elisabeth Keegan – as the Program Administrator, Elisabeth is the focal contact for all administrative and coordination functions for the AKLDP. Elisabeth works closely with researchers and consultants in the field to ensure the program team receives the materials, funding, and support needed to do their work successfully. Prior to joining Tufts University, Elisabeth worked as a grant and development officer for a conservation NGO in Belize and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine. Elisabeth holds an M.A. in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University.

Previous staff

Adrian Cullis, former Chief of Party – Adrian served as the Chief of Party on the AKLDP for 3.5 years. Before joining the project, he worked for more than 30 years in the drylands of the Horn of Africa including with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Save the Children/US, Lutheran World Federation, Oxfam; and the Intermediate Technology Development Group (now Practical Action). He holds a Masters’ Degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Salford.