Ulemu is a civil engineer with over 18 years’ experience leading international development programs with international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and collaborating with multilateral and bilateral donors in a breadth of sectors spanning education, livelihood and food security, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), HIV/AIDS, and governance across Africa. Ulemu is highly experienced in the areas of organizational development and strategy, business development, resource mobilization, relationship building, and networking. Throughout his career, Ulemu has worked for five international NGOs including Care International, United Purpose (formerly Concern-Universal), Plan International Malawi, ActionAid Malawi, Self Help Africa and currently, Water For People. With these organizations, Ulemu led numerous national and regional level programs throughout Africa, including a regional project implemented by Plan International that  spanned six countries (Malawi, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Uganda, and Rwanda) supporting grant funded projects through mapping of grant roles and designing the appropriate systems and processes. 

Ulemu has a proven ability to coordinate national programming and policy with high-level government officials, donors, and local organizations, and has built relationships with an extensive network of stakeholders throughout Africa over the course of his career. Ulemu’s nearly two decades of experience with a broad range of international development actors in Africa has enabled him to effectively provide big-picture, strategic level analyses regarding fundraising, project implementation, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks with the goal of improving short and long term sustainability of organizations supporting human rights.  

He has a Master’s in Business Administration from Eastern and Southern Africa Management Institute and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Malawi.