Powering PSI Ethiopia: Yared Alemu Illuminating Leadership at PSI/E’s Regional Frontiers

Described as friendly, committed, and professional by his colleagues, Yared Alemu, the Regional Implementation Manager at PSI Ethiopia, exudes positivity with a lasting smile. Yared stands as a driving force behind an array of projects that create a meaningful impact across the Sidama, Southwest, and South Ethiopia regions.

Yared’s journey within the PSI family began in April 2011, traversing through diverse roles before assuming managerial responsibilities in January 2016. His path has been a testament to dedication, growth, and a firm commitment to PSI’s mission.

With a master’s degree in public health and social work, Yared believes that his multidisciplinary background equips him to effortlessly adapt to and oversee various projects. However, his qualities extend beyond his professional expertise. Yared is known for his warm smile and enthusiasm to showcase PSI Ethiopia’s work to visitors, whether they are internal staff, stakeholders, or funders.

In a span of only 2 years, Yared successfully hosted more than 10 visits from funders and partners. Amid Amongst these visits that have left an impression, Yared highlights a visit by representatives of Global Affairs of Canada. What initially focused on exploring the Adolescent 360 project unexpectedly led to funding a new endeavor — the Owning their Futures (OTF) project, a consortium partnership between PSI/E and MSI. This transformative initiative aims to enhance access and information related to sexual and reproductive health services for hard-to-reach rural adolescent girls, young women, couples, and broader communities across four regions of Ethiopia, to reach 500,000 women, of which 150,000 are expected to receive SRH services.

“I love welcoming our visitors and showing our work,” Yared affirms. Underscoring the significance of these visits, he emphasizes that “the regional offices constitute the backbone of PSI Ethiopia, playing a pivotal role in program implementation and overall success. This is where PSI/E gets closest to serving individuals on the ground, delivering tangible results, conducting community-level activities, and scaling up interventions — and it needs to be celebrated as such.”

Yared’s hospitable reputation extends to all who step into his field office, a testament to his exceptional managerial and leadership qualities, recognized not only within his team but across broader circles. His aspirations extend to becoming a recognized leader in the public health sector.