Belaineh Legesse, PhD

Belaineh Legesse, PhD, is a Rural Development Economist and Evaluation Specialist with more than four decades of professional experience leading evaluations, applied research and development programmes in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. His career combines academic leadership, research, programme evaluation, policy analysis, institutional development, enterprise development and strategic advisory services.

He has managed multidisciplinary teams and provided technical leadership for assignments commissioned by multilateral development banks, United Nations agencies, government institutions, international research organizations and consulting firms. His documented consulting portfolio includes assignments for the World Bank, IFC, UNIDO, UNDP, Government of Ethiopia institutions and international consulting organizations.

His technical expertise spans evaluation design, survey methodology, sampling strategies, quantitative and qualitative analysis, evidence synthesis, technical reporting, rural development, agricultural economics, value-chain development, climate resilience, natural resource management, food security, social protection, gender and social inclusion, institutional strengthening, programme management and strategic advisory services.

Selected assignments include leadership roles in the second-round impact evaluation of the Urban Productive Safety Net Project; World Bank research on migration in Productive Safety Net Programme areas; a World Bank Gender Innovation Lab high-frequency panel survey involving 1,200 households; the Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project baseline; UNIDO's baseline assessment of Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks; and a national fertilizer policy assessment.

Belaineh has also held senior executive positions at Haramaya University, including Vice President for Administration and Student Services, Vice President for Business and Development, and Dean of the Faculty of Continuing and Distance Education. His institutional leadership experience includes governance, strategic planning, financial management, human resources, procurement, infrastructure development and organizational reform.

He holds a PhD and MSc in Rural Development Studies from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, as well as an MSc and BSc in Agricultural Economics from Haramaya University. He has supervised more than 25 PhD dissertations and over 60 Master's theses and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and technical studies.

At EthioVal, Belaineh provides strategic leadership and guides the firm's commitment to analytical rigor, professional independence, contextual intelligence, collaborative problem-solving and evidence-based decision support.