Selamawit Mersha has seven years of experience in Program Management, Program Development and Quality in the non-profit sector. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Masters of Social Work from Addis Ababa University. Selamawit is a RISE UP Youth Champions Initiative Fellow, Alumni of Young Leaders Training Program, and Alumni of Young Policy Makers of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Her professional background includes working on Migration, Livelihoods, Youth Development, SRHR and Gender equality programs. While she served as a Livelihood Specialist in Save the Children International Ethiopia, Selamawit improved the lives of Young Ethiopian and Eritrean migrants under the Ethiopia Migration Program supported by FCDO through Socio-economic reintegration, resilience and self-reliance programs. Previously, Selamawit improved the Sexual reproductive health and wellbeing of young people in Ethiopia through life skills, advocacy and meaningful engagement, provision of YFS and capacity building of partners through the GUSO SRHR program funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Selamawit has formed and led Youth Advocate groups for YNSD and FAWE Ethiopia who advocated for social issues such as SRHR, gender equality and meaningful engagement. Selamawit also improved the lives of young Ethiopians under projects funded by RISE UP, CSSP, Embassy of Finland and Packard Foundation. Selamawit has consulted government stakeholders, youth groups and nonprofit organizations on Program Development and Quality, Youth Engagement and Gender mainstreaming. Through these experiences Selamawit has developed skills in program management, technical and consulting expertise, and capacity building. Selamawit is interested in Youth Development, Gender Equality, and Behavioral Science.
Host Organization: ideas42
Role at Host Organization: At ideas42, Selamawit will serve as a Behavioral Design Fellow: contributing to different behavioral design projects in Global Health and participating in professional development opportunities, specifically around behavioral science and program design, with additional opportunities to contribute to research approaches.