Bees for Development Ethiopia
Professional Staff Profiles
Tilahun Gebey
Tilahun Gebey is the Founder and Executive Director of Bees for Development Ethiopia (BfDE), a civil society organization established in 2012 and based in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. With more than two decades of experience in apiculture, rural development, and natural resource management, he has dedicated his career to promoting sustainable livelihoods, empowering rural communities, and protecting biodiversity. Tilahun holds an MSc from the Netherlands and a first degree from Alemaya University. An experienced beekeeper and development professional, he has extensive expertise in nature-based beekeeping, innovative project design and management, enterprise development, gender mainstreaming, integrated watershed management, and comprehensive land husbandry. Under his leadership, BfDE has reached more than 120,000 people, particularly youth and women, through innovative initiatives in beekeeping, enterprise development, livelihood improvement, and pollination services. He also provides practical beekeeping training and technical support to farmers, development agents, and other stakeholders. Tilahun is recognized for his strategic vision, practical field experience, and commitment to sustainable development. His work focuses on creating environmentally responsible solutions that strengthen rural livelihoods, expand economic opportunities, empower communities, and contribute to the conservation of nature and biodiversity.
Getsh Kassa: is a Program Manager with over 10 years of experience designing and leading beekeeping-centered livelihood initiatives in development and NGO contexts. Specializing in sustainable apiculture as a driver of rural income, he manages programs that strengthen honey value chains, improve market access, and build the capacity of smallholder farmers, women, and youth to earn resilient livelihoods from beekeeping. His work integrates nature-based beekeeping with forest conservation, pollinator protection, and climate-smart practices, promoting pollinator- friendly beekeepers and biodiversity stewardship. With strong experience in program coordination, partnership management, and community-led enterprise development, they are deeply committed to advancing beekeeping as a practical, environmentally responsible pathway for sustainable livelihoods and local economic growth.
Anteneh Ayalew Melesse serves as the Finance and Administration Head at Bees for Development Ethiopia (BfDE), where he oversees financial management, budgeting, donor reporting, procurement, payroll, internal controls, audits, and administrative operations to ensure compliance with organizational policies and donor requirements. He holds a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance and has extensive professional experience in financial and administrative management within the nongovernmental sector. His expertise includes financial planning and reporting, grant management, budget monitoring, procurement, policy development, internal controls, and organizational governance. Throughout his career, Anteneh has strengthened financial management systems, enhanced accountability and compliance, coordinated external audits, and supported the successful implementation of donorfunded projects, notably the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) Program. He is passionate about promoting sound financial governance and transparency and has a strong personal interest in advancing community development by creating sustainable economic opportunities that improve livelihoods.
Senior Agricultural Scientist and Development Professional with more than 20 years of progressive experience in agricultural research, higher education, project management, and rural development in Ethiopia. Specialized in agronomy, horticulture, plant breeding, seed systems, biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, climate-resilient farming systems, and agricultural value chain development. Proven experience in designing and managing donor-funded projects, leading multidisciplinary teams, conducting applied research, facilitating multi-stakeholder platforms, and delivering evidence-based policy recommendations. Extensive expertise in survey design, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), stakeholder engagement, capacity development, and technical advisory services. Strong track record in proposal development, technical report writing, and scientific publications.
Agazhe Tsegaye Beekeeping Projects Manager. Agazhe is a Beekeeping Projects Manager at Bees for Development Ethiopia (BfDE), where he leads multiple initiatives focused on beekeeping and biodiversity conservation. He holds an MSc degree in Apiculture from Bahir Dar University (2021) and has over eight years of experience as an apiculture researcher within Ethiopia’s agricultural research system. Agazhe is a proactive and resourceful professional dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and pollinator advocacy. His work emphasizes beekeeping-based livelihood empowerment and youth engagement, making him a strong voice for sustainable development in Ethiopia.
Abay Akalu – Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) Bahir Dar Cluster Coordinator. Abay holds both BSc and MSc degrees in Agricultural Economics from Haramaya University, earned decades ago. Since February 2026, he is serving as the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) cluster coordinator under Bees for Development Ethiopia (BfDE). He is a highly dedicated and experienced development professional with extensive expertise in cooperative development, agricultural extension, university teaching, project management, and rural finance. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong leadership in designing and implementing development initiatives that improves livelihoods and promote sustainable economic growth. In his current role, Abay coordinates youth employment initiatives through apiculture and related value chains with an aim to create employment opportunities for more than 60,000 young people-women accounting for 80%
Titkensh Alemu is a Gender Equality, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Social Inclusion and Safeguarding expert with more than 14 years of professional experience in program management, project coordination, training, and community development. She has worked extensively to empower women, girls, and vulnerable groups through awareness raising, capacity building, leadership development, and economic empowerment initiatives in both humanitarian and development settings. Throughout her career, Titkensh has collaborated with government institutions, community-based organizations, and national and international partners to promote gender equality, safeguarding, social inclusion and positive social norm change. She is passionate about strengthening the rights, resilience, and leadership of women and young people through inclusive and sustainable development approaches. Titkensh holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor's degree in Economics. In 2024, she received the Outstanding Human Rights Defender of the Year 2023 Award from the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center in recognition of her contribution to advancing human rights and gender equality.
Abebe Beyene Derar is an Enterprise Development Officer with the MaYEA Program at Bees for Development Ethiopia (BfDE), where he works for creation dignified and fulfilling works to the rural through business development services, financial inclusion, market linkages, and entrepreneurship support. He holds an MA in Business Administration and a BA in Economics, and brings more than 25 years of professional experience in enterprise development, financial services, grant management, and results-based monitoring and evaluation. Abebe is also an experienced Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) consultant with expertise in sustainable development and impact assessment. Throughout his career, he has successfully supported SME development, youth employment promotion, access to finance, partnership building, and donor-funded program management. He is recognized for his expertise in enterprise and market systems development, proposal and project design, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and grant management, and is committed to advancing inclusive economic growth and sustainable livelihood opportunities for youth and rural communities across Ethiopia.
Biography: Teshome Derso – is an experienced expert from development to research and worked for both governmental and non governmental organization as a development officer and researcher. Teshome was also accredited in academics of both natural and social sciences (MSc degree in Animal production and BA degree in Economics from Bahir Dar University and BSc degree in animal sciences from Hawassa University). Teshome has worked closely with the community and facilitated, coordinated, and lead Apiculture development, while working with BfDE (Bees for Development Ethiopia). He played a substantial role in engagement of 109,000 youth and communities on bee keeping inclusive to female (more than 80%), youth with disabilities, IDPs and returnees. He supported for the establishment of different producer, processing and marketing cooperatives and enterprises that enabled to innovate, adopt, and started to generate better income sustainably demonstrated entrepreneurship through apiculture. He focused on producing nature-based honey and honey products through promotion and adoption of climate smart bee keeping practices and technologies. Besides, integrating beekeeping with national initiatives of green legacy and promote the role of bees on eco-system services and productivity for crop production alignment to ever increasing population and available limited resources. Teshome is a hardworking person working with in integrity, honesty, team work spirits, and participatory management.
I serve as the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer at Bees for Development Ethiopia, where I support the implementation of the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) Program. My work involves program monitoring, data quality assurance, analysis, and reporting, generating the evidence that informs decision-making and continuous learning across our initiatives. I hold a Master's degree in Project Management and Planning and bring over ten years of experience in monitoring and evaluation, budget management, and civil society oversight, complemented by two years in the banking sector as a customer service provider. This diverse background has strengthened my skills in M&E systems design, data management, project planning, performance measurement, stakeholder coordination, and capacity building. I am committed to growing with Bees for Development Ethiopia, a fast-expanding organization that needs a robust MEL system, and I look forward to helping build that foundation while advancing sustainable livelihoods through inclusive apiculture development.
is an accomplished Finance and Operations Officer with more than 20 years of dedicated service in donor funded projects/programs/ of the government Ethiopia and different non-governmental organizations/NGOs/where he has consistently advanced financial accountability, operational excellence, and donor compliance. He has successfully overseen multi-donor budgets, developed integrated financial planning and forecasting systems, and implemented rigorous internal controls that have strengthened transparency and built trust with stakeholders. His professional expertise spans strategic budgeting, grant management, procurement oversight, and operational process optimization. Getachew has led initiatives to streamline workflows, reduce administrative costs, and enhance reporting accuracy, enabling organizations to direct more resources toward impactful programs. He is also known for fostering strong collaboration between finance, operations, and program teams, ensuring that financial strategies are fully aligned with organizational missions. Getachew’s leadership approach emphasizes mentorship and capacity building, equipping teams with the skills and tools to maintain high standards of accountability and efficiency. Passionate about sustainable development, he thrives in diverse, multicultural environments and approaches challenges with adaptability, strategic thinking, and a solutions-focused mindset. He holds a Master of science degree in Accounting and Finance. With his blend of technical expertise, operational insight, and unwavering commitment to social impact, Getachew continues to be a trusted partner in driving organizational growth and long-term sustainability.
Alemwork Yeneabat Alemu is the Senior Accountant at Bees for Development Ethiopia (BfDE), where she is responsible for executing daytoday financial operations with accuracy and accountability. She holds a Diploma in Business Education and a BA Degree in Accounting, and brings nearly 29 years of professional experience as an Accountant, Finance Officer, and Senior Project Accountant across various government institutions. Her expertise includes donor reporting, procurement, contract administration, and financial management, supported by training in electronic accounting software (Peachtree). Alemwork is recognized for her strong communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills, which enable her to contribute effectively to BfDE’s mission of empowering communities through sustainable beekeeping. She lives in Bahir Dar, is married, and a proud mother of two children. Her dedication, reliability, and commitment to transparency make her a trusted member of the BfDE team.
Biography: Dedicated to sustainable development, Edilegnaw Asfaw is a highly driven specialist in agricultural economics and natural resource management. By encouraging the sustainable use and preservation of natural resources, I have proven my ability to improve local livelihoods and empower rural youth. I have outstanding communication, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills in addition to proficiency with ArcGIS, GPS, Topographic Mapping, Notion, Microsoft Excel, and Kobo. I have years of expertise in socioeconomic surveys, project management, gender mainstreaming, integrated watershed management, comprehensive land husbandry, and nature- based beekeeping. I offer practical and environmentally responsible solutions to the issue. By significantly influencing agricultural development and natural resources, I hope to use my knowledge and experience to create inclusive, ecologically sound solutions that support long- term economic growth and environmental resilience.
Hailemariam Anley, born in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, is a seasoned finance professional with over 10 years of experience in accounting, financial management, and project finance. He currently serves as Senior Finance Officer at Bees for Development Ethiopia (BfDE), where he plays a central role in strengthening financial systems, ensuring accountability, and supporting the organization’s mission to empower communities through sustainable beekeeping. Hailemariam holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and has worked with both national and international development organizations, gaining extensive expertise in financial oversight and project implementation. His work at BfDE reflects his commitment to transparency, compliance, and effective resource management, contributing directly to the organization’s long-term sustainability and impact. Married and a proud parent, Hailemariam values the support of his family in balancing professional responsibilities with personal life. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, sports, and movies, bringing energy and balance to his career and community engagement.
An invaluable member of the team, Efrem provides all aspects of beekeeping training and facilitates tree–planting and land restoration activities. Efrem is widely respected by project beneficiaries and, for many farmers, is known as the face of Bees for Development Ethiopia.
Amsale Tamene Haile, born in Bahir Dar in August 1989, is a finance and administration professional currently serving at the Agar Ethiopia Charitable Society Bahir Dar Project as Cashier, Secretary, and Storekeeper. In this role, she manages financial transactions, petty cash operations, inventory systems, and office administration, ensuring transparency and efficiency in organizational processes. She also provides reception services, supports staff with procurement and documentation, and safeguards confidential records. Amsale holds a BA in Accounting and Finance from Tis Abay College, Bahir Dar, and has completed professional trainings in Peach Tree accounting software, computer applications, and human rights advocacy related to internally displaced persons (IDPs). Fluent in Amharic and proficient in English, she is recognized for her integrity, interpersonal skills, and ability to work under pressure. Her dedication to accountability and service makes her a valuable contributor to Ethiopia’s civil society and development sector.
Cashier is a careful and meticulous member of the team – helping to keep track of payments and handling cash. She is hardworking and reliable and has been a stalwart employee since BfDE was established