Visit of Sida Officials to Addis Ababa University 21-24 October 2024
Two newly assigned Sida officials namely, Dr. Eren Zink, Research Advisor, and Mrs. Karin Afli, Controller from Sida Headquarter, Stockholm, Sweden, visited Addis Ababa University (AAU) from 21 to 24 October 2024 to assess the current status of ongoing projects sponsored by Sida and discuss remaining activities of 2024 and 2025, as the projects are set to end in June 2025.
On the first day of their visit, Professor Brook Lemma, the Sida Projects Coordinator led Dr. Eren Zink and Mrs. Karin Afli to meet with the AAU Interim President Dr. Samuel Kifle to discuss key project issues. This first meeting helped to create a friendly atmosphere for discussing the project’s progress and future activities. At this meeting Dr. Samuel Kifle expressed his gratitude to the Sida team for the consistent and purposive support of Sida to the development of the AAU research and graduate programs. Complementing this, Dr. Eren Zink and Mrs. Karin Afli appreciated the progress of research at AAU, the creation of enabling environment for research and graduate programs. Finally, the president wished the team a fruitful time at AAU and looks forward to see Sida and AAU working together in the present or any other new modality of cooperation.
Dr. Samuel Kifle, AAU Interim President, Dr. Eren Zink and Mrs. Karin Afli discussing about the AAU-Sida Project at the AAU President Office.
Afterward, the Project Principal Investigators (PIs) of various projects under the Research and Capacity Building initiatives assembled with the officials at the AAU Senate Hall. During this meeting, Directors and representatives from the Graduate Program Office, Special Needs Support Center, AAU Library, and AAU ICT presented their achievements supported by Sida. They expressed their appreciation for Sida’s contributions to these initiatives.
Professor Brook Lemma provided an overview of the project’s accomplishments, highlighting the impact of Sida’s support in Ethiopia and specifically at AAU, even prior to the current agreement.
The visitors also toured the Project Finance Office and the AAU Procurement Office, where they engaged with the AAU-Sida project head controller, Mr. Belaynew Mengistu, and the AAU Budget and Finance Director Mr. Roha Wondemeneh. This session focused on project budget utilization and the capacity-building efforts supported by Sida to the finance office.
Additionally, the Chief Sourcing and Property Officer at AAU discussed the procurement processes currently in place, offering insights into how these processes align with the university’s goals and Sida’s objectives.
Group Picture of participants in front of AAU Museum
In the morning of the second day, the Sida officials visited the Center for Human Rights and the Commissioned Education Program at the College of Business and Economics.
The Head of the Human Rights Center, Dr. Fasil Mulatu provided an overview of the activities supported by Sida, outlining the center’s main objectives and key projects. Guests were invited to see various books, publications, and brochures displayed during the visit.
The Principal Investigator (PI) of the Commissioned Education Program Dr. Mohammed Seid presented the program’s objectives, achievements, and challenges. He also invited beneficiaries of the program to share their experiences. Participants discussed how the training had positively impacted their careers.
In the afternoon, PIs, beneficiaries, and supervisors from the Management and Economics PhD program met with the Sida officials and SPCO staff. They presented the program’s objectives, successes, challenges, and future plans. PhD graduates supported by Sida two females and one male shared how Sida’s assistance had significantly upgraded their studies.
In the morning of the third day, the Sida officials toured the Electric Power and Control Engineering PhD program at the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology. Dr. Menegesha Mamao, the Principal Investigator (PI) of the program, presented an overview that included the program’s objectives, achievements, challenges, and future plans. The meeting was attended by the School Dean, supervisors, SPCO staff, graduates, and current students.
Students showcased their research through posters, providing brief descriptions of their publications to the guests. This presentation highlighted the advanced work being done within the program. Additionally, some laboratory equipment procured with Sida’s support were displayed. The visit emphasized the significant contributions of the Electric Power and Control Engineering PhD program to the Ethiopian Electric Power Authority and its continued partnership with Sida.
Right: PhD student Mesfin Tilahun explaining his research work and publication to Dr. Eren Zink together with Dr. Mengesha Mamo, PI of Electric Power and Control Engineering. Right Dr. Firehiwot Girma the first female graduate of the program presenting here research output to Mrs. Karin Afli.
After visiting the Electric Power and Control Engineering PhD program, Dr. Eren Zink and Mrs. Karin Afli, along with Professor Brook Lemma and the SPCO team, traveled to the Center for International and Comparative Education PhD program, located on the main Sidist Kilo Campus of AAU. There, Dr. Alebachew Kemiso presented an overview of the program, highlighting its achievements and challenges. A PhD graduate and a supervisor also shared their experiences.
In the afternoon of the third day, the guests traveled to the Institute of Biotechnology located at the Natural and Computational Sciences campus at Arat Kilo with Professor Brook Lemma and the SPCO team. There, the project PI, Professor Tesfaye Sisay, presented an overview of the program’s achievements. The institute director and several professors attended the meeting and shared their experiences. The Sida delegates also visited the laboratories where PhD students conduct their research activities.
On the last day, Dr. Eren and Mrs. Karin reflected on the previous three days of meetings and provided guidance on planning activities for 2025. They discussed strategies to support the remaining PhD students so that they complete their degrees by the end of 2025.
Overall, this visit highlighted the positive impacts of Sida’s support to various programs at Addis Ababa University, and conducted meaningful discussions about how successfully the AAU-Sida projects can be closed and work towards future collaborations in any modality the conditions allow. It was then generally understood that the AAU-Sida engagements with various departments underlined the importance of collaboration in achieving project goals.
