Mefthe Tadesse

Mefthe is an accomplished international development professional, passionate about driving economic growth and reducing poverty. She brings over 20 years of experience across commercial businesses, management consultancy, and international development. She has spent more than 15 years in senior leadership roles across East Africa, including leading country-level platforms in Ethiopia and overseeing strategy and operations in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda.

As Regional Director of TechnoServe East Africa, Mefthe successfully delivered a diverse portfolio of projects, led program development, and ensured high team performance across the region. In her role as Country Director for TechnoServe Ethiopia, she managed a large-scale value chain development program funded by major donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Nespresso, and USAID by forging strong relationships with government partners and local actors.

She is deeply committed to team empowerment and professional development, having mentored and coached numerous junior colleagues while managing a team of over 400 staff in Ethiopia. Through strategic leadership, a focus on quality program delivery, and building strong partnerships with donors and stakeholders, Mefthe has established robust country platforms in multiple East African countries to address critical challenges faced by partners.

Prior to her tenure at TechnoServe, Mefthe served as Country Coordinator for BBC Media Action in Ethiopia and worked with Ernst & Young to develop privatization strategies for Ethiopian public enterprises and implement business process improvements at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.

Mefthe has a BA degree from Wye College, University of London. In her spare time, she enjoys cheering for her favorite football team, which she considers the best in the world.