Abdissa Tegene

Areas of expertise: Business Development, Market Systems Development, Inclusive Rural Finance
Office: Ethiopia

Abdissa is results oriented, analytical, and passionate about development interventions. His educational background, a MA in Development studies with specialization in Development Management, has given him the right skill set and knowledge to craft sustainable development. Having a BA in Business Administration and numerous short-term trainings in various themes have given him good perspective and understanding of, particularly, rural contexts and livelihoods. He is an experienced leader and manager, and an expert in rural development of Ethiopia, with a demonstrated history of working with INGOs and in the private sector. In the last two decades he has worked with, and provided consultancy services for various organizations in Ethiopia, such as Cordaid, Care Ethiopia, CST, Oxfam GB, SOS Shale, ICCO Cooperation, GIZ and others.

Abdissa has modelled, designed, implemented, monitored, evaluated, and managed various projects in the areas of micro financing, market and business development, food security, livelihoods, youth employment services, economic development, market linkage, Market System Development, and pro-poor value chain development and analysis. One of his recent successes is the establishment of a micro franchise social business model in four regions of Ethiopia. Adopted from CARE Bangladesh, it is a business led women economic empowerment model which helps to improve the social and economic status of marginalized, destitute, and poor women.

Abdissa is also winner of the 2013 and 2014 “Human Story Contest”, international contests organized by CARE International. In addition he has two publications in the area of microfinance and climate change, namely “Factors affecting loan repayment performance of micro finance clients” and “Mini study on climate vulnerability capacity assessment”. Currently Abdissa is working for Fair & Sustainable Ethiopia as a senior Agri-business and Micro-Franchise consultant.