Our Team in Ethiopia

Ms. Adele Khodr is a national of Lebanon. She graduated from the American University of Beirut, with a BA in Public Administration and an MA in Anthropology. Ms. Khodr has been working with UNICEF since 1990. She served UNICEF in Sudan, the Regional Office for South Asia, Sierra Leone and India. Ms. Khodr worked as UNICEF Rep. to Cote d’Ivoire and Afghanistan until she joined the UNICEF office in Ethiopia in May 2019.

Alexio, a national of Zimbabwe, has more than 20 years of experience of international development work across several countries in Africa. As ILO Representative, Alexio currently manages and leads ILO country programmes in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan, and also serves as the ILO Special Representative to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa.

Recognized as a thought-leader and key influencer among African countries, Andrew is responsible for collaboration with and technical assistance to ITU Members in Africa. Prior to ITU, Andrew served as COO at MTN and CEO at Artel Communications both in Rwanda. Andrew holds master’s degrees in Engineering and Computer Science and Business Administration.

Ms. Encontre assumed her functions as UNHCR’s Rep. in Ethiopia in Oct. 2019. Just before that, Ms. Encontre was UNHCR’s Regional Rep. based in Kinshasa, covering the DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of Congo and São Tomé e Príncipe. At the same time, she was the Regional Refugee Coordinator for the DRC Refugee Situation. Hailing from Guyana, Ms. Encontre has a background in law, and has been working with UNHCR for over 25 years.

Aurelia Patrizia Calabrò, an Italian national, holds a University Degree in International Economy, and a Master Degree in Theory and Policy for Economic Dev’t. She speaks 6 languages (i.e., Italian, French, English, Spanish, German and Russian). She started her career UNIDO in May 1989 at the Agro-Industries Dev’t Department and during over 30 years of service, she has specialized in agro-value chains development

Ms Berthilde Gahongayire has been with UNAIDS for 13 years. Before her appointment in Ethiopia, she was Senior Advisor to the African Union and UNECA. She also served as a UNAIDS Country Director for Somalia and Djibouti. She started her career in UNAIDS in 2006 in Senegal. A Rwandan by birth, Ms Gahongayire has an advanced University Degree in Public Economics and MBA in International Management.

Prior to his appointment in Ethiopia, Dr. Omamo was Deputy Director of Policy and Programme and Coordinator of Food Systems Strategy, Policy and Support in HQ, Rome. Dr. Omamo first joined WFP in 2006 and has served in different positions since then. He has served as Director of the WFP Office and Representative to the AU and UNECA in Addis Ababa; Deputy Director of Policy, Planning and Chief of Food Security and Safety Nets.

Ms. Seid joined FAO in 2002 as Operations Officer in the Emergency and Rehabilitation Division of FAO HQs. She served as the Desk Supervisor for West and Central Africa as well as Desk Supervisor for Southern Africa and the Congo Basin. In August 2013, she was appointed FAO Representative in Mali. Ms. Seid, a national of Djibouti, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and MA degree in Development Policy.

Letty Chiwara has been working in the UN for the past 22 years and has served in various capacities at country, regional and global levels. Prior to her appointment to her current position, she was the Chief of the Africa Section for both UNIFEM and UN Women based in New York. She has led global programmes spanning all regions of the world. She holds a master’s degree in Urban Development Planning from the University of London.

Prior to her current posting, Ms. Achieng served as Head of the International Partnerships Division at IOM HQs in Geneva and as IOM Chief of Mission to Haiti, having served in IOM country offices in Senegal, Kosovo and Kenya. Ms. Achieng started her career with IOM in Haiti in January 1995 upon completing her studies (Master of Social Sciences Degree in Dev’t Administration, Birmingham University, UK). Ms. Achieng is a native of Kenya.

Mr. Turhan Saleh has worked with the UN since 1989. Mr. Saleh has worked for UNICEF in Ghana and Eritrea before joining UNDP in 1997. He has served UNDP in different senior positions at country office and Headquarters levels including as Resident Representative and Strategic Plan Coordinator at Executive Office of the UNDP Administrator. Mr. Turhan Saleh has a Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell University and a Master in Public Affairs from Princeton.

Worknesh joined UNOPS with over 20 years of work experience in the development sector. She served as Deputy National Director for World Vision Ethiopia, oversighting the operations of over USD 100 mln annual funding portfolio. With ActionAid she supported 11 East and Southern Africa country operations as Regional Programme Coordinator. Worknesh has an MBA from the University of Liverpool and a Post Graduate Diploma in Total Quality Management, NESET, India.