Selamawit Menkir is the General Manager of Ella Center with over 20 years of experience managing large-scale programs in civil society, governance, human rights, and women’s empowerment in Ethiopia. Her expertise spans project and program management, capacity building, organizational development, gender equality and safeguarding, fundraising and business development, strategic leadership, partnership building, and advocacy.

She holds an MSc in Quality and Productivity Management, an MA in Social Anthropology, and a BA in Education, and is a certified manager (ICPM, USA) as well as a Certified Management Consultant (EMI, Ethiopia).

She has held several leadership roles, including former Deputy Chairperson of CHADET, former Board Member of the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa–Ethiopia (SWAA-E), and currently serves as Board Chairperson of the Ethiopian Center for Ethics (ECE). Skilled at leading complex programs with diverse stakeholders, she has proven expertise in KPI development and reporting, risk analysis, partnership development, gender mainstreaming, safeguarding, and influencing stakeholders at local, national, and international levels.

She is passionate about advancing inclusive development, governance, gender equality, and inclusion through effective program management, learning, and knowledge sharing.