Getachew holds a PhD in Resource Assessment and Analysis, a Masters of Science Degree in Forest Resources Management, a Diploma in Forestry, and certificates in Remote Sensing and Education.  He started his professional career as forestry project coordinator in the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and later worked for 17 years as lecturer, researcher, and dean at the Alemaya and Debub Universities. He also worked as a researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences for about two years..

Getachew joined SNV Ethiopia in February 2004. As natural resources management advisor, he provided professional support to organisations working on natural resources management. He was a member of the team that conducted in 2006 the biogas feasibility study. Subsequently he became member of the biogas team that formulated the biogas programme implementation document. As such, Getachew has been instrumental in setting up the National Biogas Programme in Ethiopia.  Getachew is passionate about promoting renewable energy as part of building a world where all live in harmony and comfort.  

Willem Boers, Senior Advisor Renewable Energy, Biogas

Willem holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Business Administration. Since 1985 Willem has been working for SNV, first in Botswana and Nepal and now in Ethiopia. In Botswana he coordinated a labour intensive programme and worked as a project officer for an environmental NGO promoting sustainable land use management. In Nepal he worked with the national biogas programme and advised a NGO on the promotion of renewable energy technologies. Willem was closely involved in the development of national biogas programmes in Laos, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

His main areas of expertise are the promotion of biogas and renewable energy technologies, quality management, networking, capacity development and climate change. Willem believes that creating access to renewable energy will benefit large numbers of households and contributes to improved living conditions. Development is finding the balance between environmental issues, economic opportunities and peoples well being.

Worknesh Assefa, Advisor, Biogas  

Worknesh is a Chartered Certified Accountant and a member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds a Bachelor degree in Accounting.

She has over 20 years of experience in auditing and Financial Management of Government implemented programme and Projects.  She worked as auditor and financial analyst in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Chief accountant in the Tigray Development Association Addis Ababa Main Branch, Senior Auditor for Ethiopian Social Rehabilitation and Development Fund –Addis Ababa Regional Office, Finance and Administration for Prevention and Disposal of Obsolete Pesticides Programme and  Finance, Administration and Procurement for African Stockpiles Programme Ethiopia Project under The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. 

She joined SNV Ethiopia on June 2009 as Finance Advisor for the National Biogas Programme which is being implemented by Rural Energy Development and Promotion Center and SNV.

She aspires to see an improved livelihood and quality of life of rural households in Ethiopia through the exploitation of market and non-market benefits of domestic biogas such as replacement of unsustainable utilization of wood and charcoal for cooking and lighting; use of the high value organic fertilizer from the bio-slurry; and improvement of health and development conditions for rural households.

Melis Teka, Advisor Renewable Energy, Biogas

Melis holds a Masters of Science Degree in Renewable Energy and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Engineering. His MSc thesis focused on biogas. 

Melis has been working as energy specialist in the Environmental Protection Authority and as biogas and briquette expert at the Rural Technology Development and Promotion Centre. He was in charge of the Rural Energy Development Programme in the Ministry of Mines and Energy before becoming head of the Energy Regulatory Department, where his responsibilities included coordination of the Biofuel development programme, the ethanol blended gasoline project and the CDM initiative project.  

Melis joined SNV in November 2008. He assists the Mines and Energy Agency and other government departments in the Southern and Oromia Region as well as various actors form the private sector in the implementation of the national biogas programme.  

Working on renewable energy is his passion, as he believes in their huge potential for the economic development of countries like Ethiopia. Next to biogas, he is keen to explore the potential of Biofuel in Ethiopia.

Messele Kada, Advisor Renewable Energy, Biogas

Messele holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering, a bachelors degree in chemistry, and an advanced training diploma in environmental management. He has 15 years experience in the energy sector, working in natural gas and oil exploration with the Ministry of Mines and Energy and as an expert, team leader and department head for renewable/alternative energy study and development in the Southern Region.

Messele joined SNV Ethiopia in March 2009 as biogas adviser. He assists the Mines and Energy Agencies in Amhara and Tigray regions as well as other actors in the implementation of the National Biogas Programme.

His ambition is to fully use his capacity and knowledge to improve the quality of life of the rural population in Ethiopia by ensuring delivery of quality renewable energy through the use of safe locally available, environmentally friendly energy technologies.

Cherkos Tefera, Advisor Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Cherkos holds a Masters degree in Civil Engineering (major Hydraulic) and Bachelors degree in Irrigation Engineering, and Certificates in Construction Management, Project Planning and Management, Hygiene and Sanitation Promotion. He is a licensed Professional Water Engineer and also holding Construction Engineer Grade V License.

During his 16 year professional life he worked for the government as well as local and international NGOs as water and sanitation engineer, section head, division manager and water and sanitation advisor. His main field of expertise is in water resource planning, water management, hygiene and sanitation promotion, participatory baseline surveying, community-led total sanitation and planning and designing of small scale irrigation projects.

He published a number of articles in reputable professional journals. He led the design and implementation of various small and large-scale urban and rural integrated water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion projects.

Cherkos joined SNV Ethiopia in October 2007 as WaSH advisor. He is working on improving access to water, sanitation and hygiene at schools, clinics, markets and at household level in Oromia region.

Gashaye Chekol, Advisor, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Gashaye holds a Masters degree in Irrigation Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering. He holds 22 years experiences and managerial skills working in the areas of irrigation development, human water supply, sanitation and hygiene sectors in different government and non-governmental organisations.

He joined SNV Ethiopia in October 2008 as one of the three National Portfolio WaSH Advisors and is involved in building the capacity of meso level WaSH actors, including district government bodies, local NGOs and the private sector. His vision is to see actors working together to achieve the Ethiopian government’s WaSH agenda as well as the MDG on water and sanitation.

Befekadu Kassahun, Advisor, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene 

Befekadu holds a Masters of Science Degree in Hydraulic Engineering and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Irrigation Engineering. He has more than 16 years practical experience in the water sector, working in public, private and  non-governmental organisations in different capacities, including Water Resources Development Expert, Contract Administration and Management Team Leader, Deputy Residence Country Representative, and Water Resources Management Advisor.

Befekadu joined SNV Ethiopia in November 2008. As a member of the National Portfolio WaSH team, he assists the Oromia Water Resources Department and NGO and private sector clients in increasing local community access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

Befekadku’s vision is to see universal access to safe and adequate water supply and sanitation services, with women playing a leading role in the process.

Adane Kitaba, Advisor Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Adane holds a Masters of Science Degree in Animal Production and Nutrition, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Sciences, and a Certificate in Conflict Management. His 18 years professional experience includes 11 years working as expert in animal husbandry, forage development and livestock marketing, as head of district agricultural development offices, and as coordinator for smallholders’ dairy development and rehabilitation projects. He further worked for seven years as livestock and rangeland management team leader and head of livestock production rangeland and animal health department in the Pastoral Development Commission of Oromiya. During this period, he gained practical experience in designing development strategies, planning for sustainable livelihood improvement and pastoral early warning systems, adopting a participatory rural appraisal approach.

Currently, he is an advisor for water, sanitation and hygiene and resource person for water resource-related conflicts in the Southern Portfolio of SNV Ethiopia. 

His vision is to see rural communities taking a leading position in their own development; his ambition is to contribute to efforts to reduce poverty and improve living conditions in the rural areas.   

Zinash Tsegaye, Advisor Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Zinash holds a Masters Degree in Gender Analysis and a Bachelors Degree in Biology from the Addis Ababa University. She has 12 years professional experience in the fields of rural development, HIV/AIDS prevention and control, and gender mainstreaming. She worked as Head of the Women Affairs Office in the Southern Region and as programme manager for the Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia.

Zinash’s key competencies lie in the areas of context analysis, strategic planning and management and community-led total sanitation approach to sanitation promotion. She also has practical experience and expertise in facilitating participatory processes, action research, and policy advocacy. Currently, she works with four advisers in developing the capacity of 10 clients from the government, NGO and private sectors to improve access to water supply, sanitation and hygiene, focusing more specifically on the promotion of community-led total sanitation.   

Zinash is driven by her passion for women empowerment and gender equity.

Selamawit Tamiru, Advisor Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Selamawit holds a Masters degree in Irrigation and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering. She has 11 years of professional experience in the field of irrigation, water supply and sanitation systems design and management. She has broad experience in integrated water resource development and management, study and design of irrigation, water supply, sanitation and hygiene projects, participatory rural appraisal, action research, community based water supply scheme management, partnership building, policy promotion, and strategic planning.

Selamawit worked as Study and Design Engineer at the Irrigation Department of the Southern Regional State and as Coordinator for water supply and sanitation projects in World Vision Ethiopia programs. Selamawit joined SNV Ethiopia in August 2008. She works with four advisers in assisting the capacity of clients from the government, NGO and private sectors to improve access to water supply, sanitation and hygiene.   Selamawit is eager to proactively spearhead access to water and sanitation to the rural population of Ethiopia.

Fantahun Getachew, Advisor Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Fantahun holds a Masters degree in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Hydraulic Engineering. He has 12 years of professional experience in the areas of planning, design, construction supervision, monitoring and evaluation of water supply and sanitation projects and programs. He worked as Design Engineer for the Amhara Regional Water Bureau, as Technical Manager at the Lutheran World Federation, was the manager of a consultancy firm and lectured in the department of civil engineering of the Debub University.

He joined SNV Ethiopia in January 2008 and he works with four advisers in developing the capacity of clients from the government, NGO and private sectors to improve access to water supply, sanitation and hygiene. In addition he works with Technical Vocational Education Training Centres (TVETCs) on a hybrid distance learning programme, combining theory with practice.

Fantahun’s ambition is to see the accomplishment of SNV Ethiopia’s and the Ethiopian Government’s Universal Access Plan goal to achieve 100 % water, sanitation and hygiene coverage, with access to water supply and sanitation services resulting in better education, health and productivity of the Ethiopian people.

Teklemariam Ayalew, Advisor Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Teklemariam is the holder of a Masters degree in Social Politics for the Development of the Territory and a Bachelor of Science degree in Hydraulic Engineering. He also has a postgraduate diploma in Strategic Management for Economic and Sustainable Development of the Territory from CESTAS, Italy.

Teklemariam’s practical experience is in the water supply sector and sanitation and hygiene sub-sector. He has worked in government organisations, an international consulting company, international NGOs, bilateral and multilateral organisations. He was directly involved in the implementation of WaSH projects, including study, design and construction as well as institutional and community capacity-building, and adaptation and development of community management models.

Teklemariam joined SNV Ethiopia in September 2008 and is working in the Amhara region. The focus of his work is on increasing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene in schools, clinics, markets and households, for the latter especially in relation to sanitation and hygiene.

Habtamu Alebachew, Advisor Water, Sanitation and Hygiene  

Habtamu holds a Masters degree in Engineering in Hydrology and Water Resources and a BSc degree in Civil Engineering. His 15-year experience encompasses a wide variety of study, design, construction and supervision assignments in water engineering and related disciplines for the Ministry of Coffee and Tea Development, the North Eastern and Western Regional Water Works Construction Authority, the Kajima Corporation road rehabilitation project and the Amhara Region Water Resources Development Bureau. He was the regional consultant for a World Bank-supported WaSH project in Amhara Region.

Habtamu joined SNV Ethiopia Northern Portfolio in October 2008. The focus of his work is mainly linking WaSH activities, strategies, approaches and methods designed to improve the performance of local actors by creating conditions for change and improvement.

Habtamu is driven by his motivation to establish networks and forums at regional and woreda levels, thereby facilitating the development of WaSH products that will contribute to the eradication of hunger and extreme poverty.