LEADERSHIP
TEAM
Meet the Ethiopian team transforming their nation through Education.
DANIEL ATAKLTI
DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR
Daniel Ataklti - Deputy Country Director
Daniel leads imagine1day’s operation functions. Daniel has an MBA degree and has been deeply involved in finance and program activities at the community level since he began working with imagine1day in 2008. Daniel’s education as a lawyer and an accountant are invaluable in his responsibilities for imagein1day in the areas of planning, development, and implementation of the organization’s operation strategy. Daniel’s main role is overseeing imagine1day’s operations in Ethiopia.
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
Abdella graduated with honors from Leadstar college of Management with a MA in Business Administration. Abdella started his carers as an administration assistant to human resources and finance and administration departments in the areas of finance, personnel, procurement and transportation. Abdella also completed the Light Year Leadership training program.
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 Birhanu was born in Abeke in Gurage Zone, SNNP Region and raised in Dire Dawa town, 527 km away from the capital city Addis Ababa. He graduated with Accounting and Finance and MBA degrees from Addis Ababa University which contribute to his role as Finance Manager for imagine1day.
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.
Haftu Hagos
National meal manager – Northern Ethiopia
HAFTU Hagos - National Meal manager - northern ethiopia
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.
MUKTAR ABDI
cp and capacity building PROGRAM MANAGER
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.
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
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