Project Lead

• Mar 2017 - Present

Senior Public Health Researcher

• Mar 2011 - Present

Director General

• Nov 2011 - Jan 2017

• Managed the preparation of the EPHI 1st five-year strategic plan (2010-15) and its implementation and its midterm review which served for the preparation of the second one (2015-20).• Successfully hosted the 3rd Micronutrient Global Conference for the first time in Africa as a national Steering Committee chair & member for the International one. • Spearheaded the evolvement of Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute with more mandates for a full-fledged National Public Health Institute (EPHI) as per the New Regulation ratified by Ethiopian Parliament.• Established the public health emergency management system in line with preparedness, alert, rapid detection and response of any public health threat.• Mobilizing resource for conducting and implementing the first National Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) survey using the WHO Stepwise survey tool.• Oversees various national program work planning, performance management, and strategic communication.• Was key liaison with the MOH, major international partners like UNICEF, DFID, Micronutrient Initiative, WFP, WB, World Vision, Save the Children, FAO CDC, USAID, GF, BMGF, WHO, government counterparts (particularly Regional Health Bureau Heads) and local partners.• Presented and defended the annual budget of the Institute at the Ministry of Finance before the beginning of every new budget year.• Established goals, standards, and metrics for performance• Construction of state-of –the art Specialized Training centre with the support of CDC and leading the preparation of the business model for its future direction. • Initiating post graduate specialized trainings (FELTP, Applied Public Health, Applied Medical Entomology etc.) in collaboration with St Paul Millennium Medical College.

Deputy Director General

• 2005 - 2011

• Redesigned and restructured the Research wing of the former Ethiopian Health & Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI).• Established EHNRI a global Rapid Test kit lot testing centre for Malaria diagnosis.• Prepared the National Laboratory Master Plan for strengthening and capacitating a quality national laboratory system in Ethiopia.• Decentralized a number of diagnostic referral laboratory diagnoses in various part of Ethiopia, like molecular diagnosis of TB, HIV in infants (DNA PCR) and viral load determination for HIV and many more.• Coordinated the tissue culture anti rabies vaccine production capacity and technology transfer.• Led National surveys and surveillances including (HIV, TB, STI, Most at risk populations) and nutrition surveys. • Enabled the Institute to become one of the members of International Association of National Public Health Institute (IANPHI) where we were able to get a lot of support financially and technically in our restructuring process in 2008.• Spearheaded the establishment of the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) in Ethiopia.• Established Health System Research Directorate where we are now conducting a number of health system researches and national surveys.• Initiated new partnerships with outside International and National organizations in order to further EPHI’s research activities in priority public health problems.

Head , Infectious & Other Diseases Research Dept

• Jul 2005 - Nov 2006

• Facilitated the establishment of the National Flue lab which was able to diagnose H5N1 (Birds Flue) and now other viral haemorrhagic fever.• Linked our microbiology lab with the WHO twinning initiative with California State Public Lab for Diagnostic Capacity Strengthening for Epidemic Preparedness Operations in Ethiopia to Strengthen Viral Disease Surveillance.• Instituted regular (weekly) scientific journal presentation where current topics are discussed and peer to peer support in scientific presentation is achieved.• Established goals, standards, and metrics for performance. • Monitored the progress of the department and, when necessary, redirect priorities, take corrective action, or provided guidance.• Ensured that research conducted at the Department are published and complied with appropriate ethical standards.