LEADERSHIP
TEAM
Meet the Ethiopian team transforming their nation through Education.
DR. SEID AMAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DR. SEID AMAN - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Over the last 20 years, Seid managed the strategic planning, implementation, and successful completion of several diverse projects of both local and international NGOs working in Ethiopia. Seid’s extensive experience is in areas including Global Education, alternative and vocational education,
Education in Emergency, WASH, HIV/AIDS, child protection, women’s empowerment, and leadership development. He has ample years of leading programs supported by global development partners including USAID, Education Above All/Educate A Child, Waterloo, DFID/FCDO, European Union, ECHO,
UNICEF, LEGO, IOM, UN OCHA, Government Affairs of Canada, Costa Foundation, Light for the World, Education Cannot Wait, and many others. Seid is passionate about equitable access to quality education and empowering disadvantaged people through sustainable education development programs. He is talented in establishing close working relationships, motivating and empowering groups to work together in creating sustainable, positive changes. In his role at Imagine1day, Seid ensures each partner community achieves their goals by developing a solid culture of contribution and responsibility. Seid is thrilled to be at the helm of an organization that shares his dedication to education and sustainable livelihoods. During Seid’s over 17 years of tenure as Executive Director, he has shown a truly extraordinary leadership. Dr. Seid obtained a Global Executive Doctor of Education from University of Southern California.
DANIEL ATAKLTI
DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR
Daniel Ataklti - Deputy Country Director
HAWI ALEMU
MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION MANAGER
Hawi Alemu - Media and Communication Manager
Hawi Alemu was born and raised in Amabo town, 90 km away from the capital city Addis Ababa. She has a degree in Journalism and Communication from Wollega University. She is winner of 2012 Female’s Scholarship, which is funded by the government of Sweden. The fact that she has also conducted her Master’s degree in journalism and communication has contributed to her first role as publication and information officer in Oromia Seed Enterprise (OSE). Producing documentary, TV ads and publications, preparing press release, monitoring annual radio program hosting all stages prepared by the Enterprise and managing communication related contacts with partners and stakeholders are among her major roles in OSE.
Increased ratio of peer pressure to buy and utilize improved seed and seed technology from 1:1 to 1:4 with the ‘listeners group’ project she has customized from BBC media action is one of her major achievements during her stay in the enterprise.
Hawi joined imagine1day as a Media and Communication Officer in February 2018 and held that position for three years. She also served as the Program Coordinator of Education in emergency project in Guji Zone, Oromia. After this project Hawi returned to the country office as Media and Communication Manager in November 2021. Overseeing communications, writing human interest stories, testimonials, reports, and electronic communications. She also creates publications to advocate for children’s right to education and to promote the work of the organization. Hawi favourite part of her job is writing human interest stories, two of her stories were selected to be shared with her highness Sheka Moza of Qatar and one was selected to be posted on UNICEF’s website.
She is straight forward, committed, loyal and simple person to get along easily with.
SEMIRA BERHANU
GENDER AND INCLUSIVE SPECIALIST
HALEFOM GEZAEI
National DIRECTOR – northern ethiopia
Halefom Gezaei - NATIONAL DIRECTOR – NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
UMER LIMU
NAtional DIRECTOR – southern ethiopia
Umer Limu - Program Director-Southern Ethiopia
Umer Limu Kassim is a regional program director for imagine 1day. Umer was born in Bale Zone Oromia region of Ethiopia. He is an education and development expert. Umer has been a leader for the last 17 years as a primary and secondary school teacher, school Principal, and education officer. He has help the following positions with imagine1day; community mobilizing officer, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning officer and currently he is a regional program director. He has received BA in geography and environmental science from Meda-Welabu University in 2010 and he holds MA in Developmental studies from Ambo University, Ethiopia.
YASABU BERKNEH
strategic partnership director
Yasabu Berkneh - Strategic Partnership Director
With over 31 years of experience in education and development, Yasabu spent 11 years as a secondary school teacher before joining the Federal Ministry of Education in 2002. During his 18 years there, he worked in various departments and agencies.
In 2020, Yasabu joined the Education Cannot Wait Multi-Year Resilience Program in Ethiopia (ECW) as the Program Coordination Unit Lead. ECW is the United Nations’ global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. Yasabu managed the program’s grantees (UNICEF and Save the Children) and the steering committee, which included donors, UN agencies, and local and international NGOs. He successfully mobilized over $15 million in additional resources for the program.
Yasabu was drawn to imagine1day due to its passionate staff and track record of success, reflecting his own commitment to making a positive impact in education.
ABDELA HASSEN
GRANT and Partnership MANAGER
Abdella Hassen - Grant Manager
Over the last size years Abdella worked at Imagine1day in different roles including Administration Assistance, Human Resource and Administration Officer, CPiE Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Information Management Officer, and currently as Grant Manager.
MELES BIRHANU
FINANCE MANAGER
Meles Birhanu - Finance Manager
Meles has a proven track record of success in all areas of administration and financial management including planning and budget analysis, cash flows projection and control, financial reporting and analysis, budget and expenditure tracking, and grant management. He manages our grant and sub grant funds working closely with our partners including USAID, CIDA, CFGB, EU, CFH & other private donors. He possesses excellent interpersonal skills and has proven ability to communicate and negotiate concisely and articulately with stakeholders at all levels.
Kemal Shenka
HR and Administration Manager
Kemal Shenka - HR and Administration Manager
As HR and Administration Manager, Kemal is striving to improve the whole functions of HR and Administration assuming that the effectiveness of Imagine 1day is mainly reside on its Human Resources. He is also trying to enhance the creation and sustenance of enabling environment with regard to the smooth HR and administrative functions within the Imagine1day for the fulfilment of the Imagine1day’s mission and objectives.
DEGU TERESA
NATIONAL MEAL MANAGER – Southern ETHIOPIA
Degu Teressa - Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Manager
Degu started with imagine1day in 2021 as the MEAL Manager. Currently, he is managing the development of an M&E system for the organization. Degu has gained experience with M&E systems over 3 years at different international organization such as Menschen fuer Menschen (MfM) and Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS) Ethiopia in M&E Coordinator positions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia country offices. He has also worked in M&E specialist position in IFAD funded program (PASIDP I and II) in Oromia Regional Office for more than 5 years (2013 to 2018). He has also worked in the Agricultural Growth Program (AGP) Coordinator position in West Shewa, Toke Kutaye District. Degu has ten years of experience working in natural resource and agricultural development in different Districts of Oromia region.
Degu has a MSc degree in Development Economics from ECSU, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also done undergraduate work in Development Management at Ambo University, Ethiopia. Degu has a Forestry Diploma in Natural Resource Management (NRM) from Wondo Genet College of Forestry. He also completed an international course on Managing for Impact (M4I) from Wageningen University, Netherlands.
Merga Gemeda
National MEAL Manager – Northern Ethiopia
Merga Gemeda - National Meal manager - northern ethiopia
Merga Gemeda hold an MSc in Agricultural Economics and Rural Development from Haramaya University. With 18 years of experience in various organizations, including both governmental and non-governmental sectors, He is currently serving as National MEAL Manager at Imagine1day International Ethiopia Country Office. During his career, he has worked as Senior MEAL Specialist at Save the Children Country Office for one year and one month, as Country Consortium MERL Coordinator at Plan International Ethiopia for seven months, as MEAL Officer at IRC Ethiopia for two years and one month, and as MEAL Officer and other different program/project positions at World Vision Ethiopia for nine years. Additionally, he has served as Project Coordinator at Compassion International Ethiopia for one year, as well as two years as Project Coordinator at Kids Care Children Welfare Association, and three years as teacher. Throughout his professional journey, he has gained extensive experience in various areas such as coordination, assessments, planning, implementation, data quality assurance, project logic design (including theory of change, result chain, and logical frameworks), and the development of MEAL plans, frameworks, and indicator performance tracking tables. He also well-versed in setting up feedback response mechanisms and have expertise in concept note/proposal development. Utilized statistical software such as Kobo, CommCare, Pivot table/chart, SPSS, and STATA to analyze data. Furthermore, he is proficient in working within multi-donor and sector environments, having collaborated with organizations such as the EU, European Commission, BMZ, UN funds, SIDA, and USAID. He has also excelled in consortium management, leading and organizing programs/projects, conducting research, monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring accountability in partnership with various international non-governmental organizations, FBOs, CBOs and local community representatives. His practical experiences extend to different sector-specific developments, including economic development, WASH, education, health, child protection, and emergency responses. He possesses the ability to collect and analyze qualitative as well as quantitative data effectively, enabling informed decision-making and the achievement of project objectives.
WORKENEH ALEMU
EDUCATION program manager
Workneh Alemu - Education Program Manager
Workneh started his work at imagine1day in 2021 as an Education Specialist. He is from Ginner town in Oromia Region of Ethiopia. He completed both primary and secondary education in Ginner town. Workneh has a degrees in Educational Administration and Management of Vocational Education from Addis Ababa University. Workneh has received a Certificate of Management Consultant from Ethiopian Management Institute and a Certificate of Accredited Assessor (Competent) from Center of Accreditation for Occupational Standard in the areas of basic clerical work, clerical work support, human resource operation and human resource supervision.
Workneh worked as a teacher and Secondary School Principal for many years in Goro and Gursum towns of East Bale and East Harerge zones respectively. He has held the position of Sponsor Relation Unit Head, ECCD and Education Unit Head and as an acting area Project Coordinator at Child Fund Ethiopia, an international NGO. He was also the Education Department Head in Arada Sub City and Training Core Process Leader in TVET Agency in Addis Ababa City Administration. He has more than 20 years of work experience in the private sector, education, government, and international NGOs.
MUKTAR ABDI
CP AND CAPACITY BUILDING
PROGRAM MANAGER
MUKTAR ABDI - CP AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM MANAGER
After earning his BA degree in environmental Geography Area of Study from Jima University, Muktar Abdi has joined the higher institution world to explore his passion in teaching in higher institution. In the then time to develop his professional career which pave the way for his current role. Currently, he works as a National Education in Emergency and Child Protection Manager in Imagine 1day, where he has focused on early education, protection and child protection.
He has spent the last 6 years learning everything from his role at different positions which helps him to know about the emergency programs. He is currently applying this knowledge in his role as program manager for his organization, where he is responsible for early education, education in emergency and child protection
He has held a number of organizational roles, from community mobilizing officer to his current role Capacity Building and CPGBV Program Manager and team Leader, but his latest challenge has been helping imagine1day improve early child education and protection through his contributions. He is a program manager with a passion for leveraging, empowering and capacitating the staffs with shared responsibilities to emotional intelligent in the given roles and responsibilities. In his 8 years journey with imagine1day, he has helped advance leadership and capacity building education, protection and leadership programs. With an extensive background in program, he is an expert on EIE and child protection. This work led him to his current role at Imagine1day where he is responsible for leading emergency and early education program.
He is very passionate to grow with his organization and to be national program director and beyond in his future career. Moreover, he wants to give his time and knowledge more than expected from me to see well recognized and extraordinary Imagine1day both at national and international level with his very human minded leaders. For most people, growing with organization doesn’t sound very interesting. For him, growing together is a passion he has been chasing for last 8 years. Most recently, his work landed him a position with imagine1day where he is focused on early education, protection and leadership. To this end he could say he is living the dream.
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