Gebrye Kefelew is a seasoned Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) consultant and expert with over 15 years of experience in MEL, project and programme management, and institutional capacity strengthening. He holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Studies, combining analytical expertise with a deep understanding of Ethiopia’s development context.

Prior to becoming CEO of Anchor in 2023, Gebrye worked as a MEL Manager and consultant for several donor-funded programmes, including CSSP2, PSNP4, EU-CSF2, and ESAP2, where he developed extensive expertise in programme design, evaluation, and institutional capacity development.

In 2024 and 2025, he led and contributed to major national and donor-funded assignments. Notably, he served as a CSO and Evaluation Expert for the EU-CSF III Programme, and as a Country Evaluation Consultant for the End-Term Evaluation of RHRN. In addition, he led the Mid-Term Review of the Sowing the Seeds of Peace in Ethiopia Programme, acted as Evaluation Team Leader for Search for Common Ground, and oversaw the Baseline Survey and Organisational Capacity Assessment of CSOs commissioned by Welthungerhilfe (EU-funded). Furthermore, he contributed to the End-Term Review of ESAP III (World Bank–MTDF) and the Final Evaluation of the ULGE Project (EU-funded). Collectively, these assignments strengthened peacebuilding, social accountability, civic engagement, and institutional performance.

As CEO, Gebrye provides strategic leadership that ensures quality, integrity, and measurable impact. Moreover, he empowers clients to turn challenges into opportunities while fostering resilient institutions, high-performing teams, and sustainable development across Ethiopia.

Birkneh Wolde holds a Master's in Project Planning and Management from Yom Economic Development Institute, in collaboration with Debremarkos University. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Addis Ababa University. With over 17 years of professional experience, Birkneh is an expert in project planning, coordination, and evaluation, and has worked extensively in sectors such as health, education, social protection, gender equality, and peacebuilding.

As a Senior Consultant - Project and Programme Development and Management at Anchor, Birkneh combines his academic background with practical expertise to design and implement effective, sustainable projects. His work focuses on stakeholder engagement, training, and applying the Theory of Change to ensure that projects align with client objectives and deliver measurable results. Birkneh’s consulting expertise spans Anchor’s core service areas, including:
• * Social Accountability & Governance
• * Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution & Security
• * Health, Education & Justice
• * Environment, Climate Change & Agriculture
• * Economic Development

Birkneh is dedicated to delivering projects that create lasting impact and provide tangible value for both clients and communities. His leadership ensures that projects not only meet client expectations but also contribute to sustainable development and long-term success.

Zelalem Kefelew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Hawassa University, graduating with Distinction in December 2020. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Development Economics at the same institution. This solid academic foundation has provided Zelalem with expertise in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), specialising in quantitative data management and data quality assurance, essential for enhancing Anchor’s MEL Services.

As a Consultant - MEL Services at Anchor, Zelalem is responsible for designing and implementing ODK (Open Data Kit) systems, ensuring that the data collection process is both efficient and accurate. In addition, he plays a pivotal role in data validation, cleaning, and analysis, maintaining rigorous data quality assurance standards to ensure the reliability and consistency of all data. Moreover, Zelalem generates insightful reports and evaluations, providing actionable insights that support data-driven decision-making and enhance the effectiveness of Anchor’s MEL Services.

Zelalem’s expertise ensures that Anchor’s MEL Services are underpinned by solid, high-quality data, driving continuous improvement and delivering measurable impact. His commitment to evidence-based decision-making aligns perfectly with Anchor’s mission to provide sustainable and impactful development solutions, ensuring long-term success and positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

Meskerem Girma is a highly skilled development professional with over 17 years of experience in inclusive development, gender transformation, and capacity building. She holds a Master of Arts in Regional and Local Development Studies from Addis Ababa University, which has provided her with a deep understanding of socio-political dynamics and development strategies. Throughout her career, Meskerem has successfully led nationwide programmes with a portfolio of 24.3 million USD, managing diverse teams of over 35 local and international staff. Her leadership ensures that all projects align with global best practices while being responsive to the local socio-political context.

As an Associate at Anchor, Meskerem focuses on gender equality, social inclusion, and capacity building. She leads organisational capacity assessments and programme evaluations, applying mixed-method approaches to ensure that marginalised groups are actively engaged in the process. Her work fosters inclusive, context-sensitive solutions, empowering civil society organisations and human rights defenders to drive their own development. Meskerem’s approach guarantees sustainable development and strengthens local communities' ability to implement impactful change.

Meskerem integrates gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive frameworks into all interventions at Anchor, ensuring that projects meet international human rights standards. Her expertise contributes to positive social change and equitable development, fostering long-term impact in Ethiopia’s evolving development landscape.

Legesse Nigussie, an MBA graduate, serves as the Operations & Corporate Services Officer at Anchor, where he plays a key role in the smooth execution of large-scale development programmes. With extensive experience in programme operations, logistics, and corporate services, he ensures efficient coordination of resources, schedules, and logistics to deliver successful outcomes.

In this role, Legesse oversees the day-to-day operational aspects, ensuring teams, resources, and logistics are aligned to meet the objectives of each programme. He manages schedules, transportation, and the timely availability of materials, all of which are critical for seamless project delivery.

Additionally, Legesse's ability to build strong stakeholder relationships and implement effective quality control measures ensures that each programme is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards. His leadership in operations, corporate services, and logistics is central to the success of Anchor’s programmes.

Mekasha Assefa is a Certified IT Instructor and Application Developer with over 15 years of experience in programming education and database management. He specialises in a range of programming languages, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, C#, VB, and C++, as well as database technologies such as MS SQL and MySQL.

Throughout his career, Mekasha has developed 10+ real-worlds IT solutions, including Digital Exam Systems and Virtual Career Services, that have made a significant impact in the field of technology. His expertise extends to website management, ICT support, and systems integration, ensuring seamless operations and high-quality technology solutions for the Anchor team.