Tigist Yeshiwas Engdaw, Ph.D

• Delivered a compelling address on Ethiopia’s humanitarian and political crisis before the U.S
• Congress in October 2023, influencing legislative perspectives and actions
• Provided strategic counsel on critical issues, including peace and security, governance, human rights, and complex humanitarian crises, shaping AEPAC’s advocacy efforts
• Led Congressional briefings, crafting detailed reports and situation analyses that informed U.S Policymakers.
• Played a crucial role in strengthening U.S -Ethiopia relations by advising on cross-cutting issues and engaging with the U.S Government’s executive and legislative branches
• Set strategy for short- and long-term development plans and advising on policy positions that may impact fundraising ability

• Worked on a crucial role in connecting survivors with Torture Abolition Survivors Support Coalition International(TASSC) and supporting the fundraising outreach efforts
• Utilized personal experience to provide peer support to survivors
• Shared personal insights to foster empathy and trust
• Connected with other survivors and community members to build a supportive network
• Engaged in fundraising outreach to individual donors and managed to raise money.

Academic /Teaching Experience: From 2009-2022

.Assistant Professor: March 2016– August 2022, Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), Addis Ababa University (AAU).

Thought courses on: peace and conflict resolution, peace and development nexus, women peace and security, democracy, human rights, and gender. Supervised/advised PhD and master’s students. Lecturer from 2009 till March 2016. Served as Research Coordinator and PhD program Coordinator from February 2011 till February 2014, Coordinated and managed the fund for the PhD program.

· University of Leipzig, Germany, March 2014-September 2014, Guest Researcher, Global and European Studies Institute (GESI)

o For peacebuilding and culture of peace research related to my PhD research writing, Lived in Germany for half a year. I was awarded the UNESCO Young Researchers Fellowship Award to conduct my studies in Germany. Thesis write up, presented in conference, seminars my research findings.

· Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), Copenhagen, Denmark, October 2011–November 2011, Guest researcher

• Conducted an external review of research and analysis on a report entitled, Study on Political Context Analysis in Ethiopia
• Study addressed critical issues relating to structural barriers affecting Ethiopian’s women in political participation

• As Senior Advisor (international consultant), provided strategic advisory and technical support to UNDP CO in Eswatini
• Gave support and technical advice to the planned national dialogue process
• Wrote a clear roadmap for the national dialogue strategy for Eswatini UNDP CO
• Developed a fundraising resource mobilization strategy and wrote an integrated human development index for Eswatini
• Trained different groups of youth, women on the national dialogue process, conflict prevention and peacebuilding
• Serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and contributed to strategy and overall organizational development

• Developed content and delivered training for local and regional women leaders to empower women in peace, security, and conflict resolution
• The training is a flagship initiative by H.E
• President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs and supported by UN Women Ethiopia

• Provided strategic and policy advice to the Minister, prepared strategic and policy papers for the Ministry of Peace in areas of peacebuilding, youth, and women empowerment
• Trained different groups of senior and mid-level leadership on peacebuilding, conflict resolution/prevention, mediation and peace, and security issues
• Liaison with UNDP and Ministry of Peace

• Reviewed and updated a training manual on Peacebuilding in the Horn of Africa and contextualized it to Ethiopia
• Gave training of trainers
• Later, published in English
• The handbook is in translated into Amharic, Afaan Oromoo and Somali languages

• Facilitated for Ministry of Peace high-level minister’s workshop and led strategic discussions
• Produced a report of workshop proceedings

• Observed 20 polling stations in Mutare, fourth largest city in Zimbabwe
• Delegation led by former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn

• Prepared moderators’ briefing notes
• Liaised with communications unit on the content of the website and promotional materials related to the event
• Coordinated the annual Book Launch, wrote, and set the criteria for the book selection

• Recipient of SSRC-APN Collaborative Working Group Grants 2014–2016, under the project title: Issues and Challenges in the Domestication and Implementation of the Decisions of the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) by Member States and Regional Mechanisms

• The project focused on early warning, conflict prevention, and conflict resolution in ten regions across Ethiopia
• Drafted and submitted periodic progress reports
• Present research finding and facilitated various validation workshops; conducted desktop studies and fieldwork in the target regional states and woredas (county)

• Worked on numerous strategic papers, organized conferences, and managed high-level office meetings for the board, senate, executive managers, etc

• Contributed to women’s leadership and political participation in Africa, gender-based violence in Africa, women, and land rights in Africa research paper