Top Management Staff
Afework Hailu
Executive Director
Afework Hailu
Ato Afework Hailu is a highly respected environmental researcher, development practitioner, and civil society leader with more than 40 years of professional experience. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA), Ethiopia’s first indigenous NGO focused on wetlands and natural resource management.
Ato Afework Hailu holds a Diploma in Horticulture and Agriculture, a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science, and a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of New England, Australia. His strong academic foundation has played a key role in linking scientific research with practical, community-based environmental and development interventions.
Through his leadership, EWNRA has partnered with international donors to improve the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of low-income communities across Oromia, Amhara, Southern Ethiopia, Gambella, and Southwest Ethiopia. His work has been instrumental in promoting wetland management and development in Ethiopia, participatory forest management, women’s savings and credit cooperatives, rural clean water supply, youth employment, and climate change mitigation, contributing significantly to Ethiopia’s sustainable development and environmental conservation efforts.
- Phone:+251911635720
- Email:ethio.wetland@gmail.com
Belaynesh Gemeda
Finance and Administrative Officer
Belaynesh Gemeda
Belaynesh Gemeda is a dedicated finance and administration professional with over 15 years of experience in the non-governmental and government sectors in Ethiopia. A graduate of Jimma University with a BA in Accounting, she has complemented her academic background with extensive training in financial management, internal controls, grant management, human resources, and international financial reporting standards. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to professional growth, continuously upgrading her skills through various certification programs from institutions like the Ethiopian Management Institute, Catholic Relief Services, and Addis Ababa School of Commerce.
Since 2015, Belaynesh is serving as the Finance and Administrative Director at the Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA), where she has led financial planning, budgeting, human resources, and audit processes. Prior to this, she held roles as Senior Accountant and Project Accountant within the same organization, gaining deep knowledge of NGO financial systems. Her career began at the Finance and Economic Development Office, where she managed public funds and prepared financial reports. Fluent in English, Afaan Oromo, and Amharic, and highly proficient in accounting software like Peachtree and Sun Systems, Belaynesh continues to be a trusted leader in her field, known for her integrity and diligence.
- Phone:+251911762781
- Email:belaynesh39@gmail.com
Mogus Worku
Agriculture and Livelihood Program Director
Mogus Worku
Ato Mogues Worku is a seasoned development and environmental professional with over 30 years of experience in leadership, program coordination, and community-based initiatives. He has served in senior roles including Executive Director, Acting Executive Director, Program Coordinator, Board Member, Vice Chair, and National Coordinator for various national and international organizations such as CCCE, SLUF, PHEEC, GiveHope Ethiopia, IUCN, and Clean Up the World.
He holds a BA in Development Management, a Certificate in Chemical Engineering from Addis Ababa University, and has completed advanced trainings in Leadership Development and Capacity Building, Knowledge Management and Communication, Climate Change and Community-Based Adaptation, and Project Formulation, Monitoring, and Evaluation with institutions including USAID, Sida, UN-ECA, SLUF, and GEF.
Ato Mogues is highly skilled in environmental education, climate adaptation, project management, and organizational capacity building. He is widely recognized for his long-standing contribution to sustainable development and environmental protection in Ethiopia.
- Phone:+251911408305
- Email:moguesworku@gmail.com
Ahmid Said
Narural Resources and Forestry Program Director
Ahmid Said
Ahmid Said Ali is an Ethiopian forestry and natural resource management professional with over 25 years of extensive experience in participatory forest management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable rural development. He holds an M.Sc. in Agroforestry and Soil Management, a B.Sc. in Forestry, and a Diploma in General Forestry from Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources. He is fluent in Amharic and Afaan Oromo, with strong working proficiency in English, and has been a member of the Ethiopian Foresters Association since 2001.
Currently, Ahmid serves as Natural Resources and Forestry Program Director at the head office of Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) in Addis Ababa, where he leads forestry programs at national and regional levels across Gambela, Oromia, and Southwest Ethiopia. His role involves strategic planning, program oversight, technical backstopping, and coordination of multi-stakeholder initiatives focused on sustainable forest management, REDD+, participatory land use planning, and climate-resilient livelihoods.
Throughout his career, Ahmid has held senior technical and leadership positions, including Project Coordinator, Area Coordinator, Senior PFM Team Leader, and Participatory Natural Resource Management Expert, working with national and international partners. His expertise spans program and project management, community empowerment, policy support, and capacity building for government institutions, NGOs, and local communities, contributing to effective implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and learning across complex natural resource and rural development initiatives.
- Phone:+251935168533
- Email:saidahmid14@gmail.com
Head Office Program Staff
Mesfin Sodo
Monitoring, Evaluation Officer
Selamawit Fekadu
WaSH Officer
Selamawit Fekadu
Ato Afework Hailu is a highly respected environmental researcher, development practitioner, and civil society leader with more than 40 years of professional experience. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA), Ethiopia’s first indigenous NGO focused on wetlands and natural resource management.
Ato Afework Hailu holds a Diploma in Horticulture and Agriculture, a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science, and a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of New England, Australia. His strong academic foundation has played a key role in linking scientific research with practical, community-based environmental and development interventions.
Through his leadership, EWNRA has partnered with international donors to improve the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of low-income communities across Oromia, Amhara, Southern Ethiopia, Gambella, and Southwest Ethiopia. His work has been instrumental in promoting wetland management and development in Ethiopia, participatory forest management, women’s savings and credit cooperatives, rural clean water supply, youth employment, and climate change mitigation, contributing significantly to Ethiopia’s sustainable development and environmental conservation efforts.
- Phone:+251911635720
- Email:ethio.wetland@gmail.com
Mekonin Bekele
Livelihood Officer
Mekonin Bekele
Ato Afework Hailu is a highly respected environmental researcher, development practitioner, and civil society leader with more than 40 years of professional experience. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA), Ethiopia’s first indigenous NGO focused on wetlands and natural resource management.
Ato Afework Hailu holds a Diploma in Horticulture and Agriculture, a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science, and a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of New England, Australia. His strong academic foundation has played a key role in linking scientific research with practical, community-based environmental and development interventions.
Through his leadership, EWNRA has partnered with international donors to improve the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of low-income communities across Oromia, Amhara, Southern Ethiopia, Gambella, and Southwest Ethiopia. His work has been instrumental in promoting wetland management and development in Ethiopia, participatory forest management, women’s savings and credit cooperatives, rural clean water supply, youth employment, and climate change mitigation, contributing significantly to Ethiopia’s sustainable development and environmental conservation efforts.
- Phone:+251911635720
- Email:ethio.wetland@gmail.com
Frehiwot Endeshaw
Gender Officer
Frehiwot Endeshaw
Ato Afework Hailu is a highly respected environmental researcher, development practitioner, and civil society leader with more than 40 years of professional experience. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA), Ethiopia’s first indigenous NGO focused on wetlands and natural resource management.
Ato Afework Hailu holds a Diploma in Horticulture and Agriculture, a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science, and a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of New England, Australia. His strong academic foundation has played a key role in linking scientific research with practical, community-based environmental and development interventions.
Through his leadership, EWNRA has partnered with international donors to improve the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of low-income communities across Oromia, Amhara, Southern Ethiopia, Gambella, and Southwest Ethiopia. His work has been instrumental in promoting wetland management and development in Ethiopia, participatory forest management, women’s savings and credit cooperatives, rural clean water supply, youth employment, and climate change mitigation, contributing significantly to Ethiopia’s sustainable development and environmental conservation efforts.
- Phone:+251911635720
- Email:ethio.wetland@gmail.com
Endegena Desalegn
Communication Officer
Endegena Desalegn
Ato Afework Hailu is a highly respected environmental researcher, development practitioner, and civil society leader with more than 40 years of professional experience. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA), Ethiopia’s first indigenous NGO focused on wetlands and natural resource management.
Ato Afework Hailu holds a Diploma in Horticulture and Agriculture, a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science, and a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of New England, Australia. His strong academic foundation has played a key role in linking scientific research with practical, community-based environmental and development interventions.
Through his leadership, EWNRA has partnered with international donors to improve the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of low-income communities across Oromia, Amhara, Southern Ethiopia, Gambella, and Southwest Ethiopia. His work has been instrumental in promoting wetland management and development in Ethiopia, participatory forest management, women’s savings and credit cooperatives, rural clean water supply, youth employment, and climate change mitigation, contributing significantly to Ethiopia’s sustainable development and environmental conservation efforts.
- Phone:+251911635720
- Email:ethio.wetland@gmail.com
Head Office Finance and Administrative Staff
Tizita Negussie
Finance Officer
Woinshet Kebede
Admistation Officer/Cashier
Menbere Mulugeta
Accountant
Tibebu Shewaye
Procurement Officer/Driver
Meseret Getnet
Office Assistant
Siyamregn Shewakena
Driver

