Tsegaye Negash, Programme Coordinator

Tsegaye is a senior animal welfare expert. He has been working at Brooke Ethiopia since 2007 in various roles, including welfare, project lead and community development. Currently, his primary responsibility is coordinating our country programme animal welfare technical support and serving as a core part of our community engagement technical team.

Expertise

Qualifications

  • Master of Science in Health Monitoring and Evaluation (Jimma University, Ethiopia; in progress)

  • Bachelor of Arts in Community Development and Leadership (Kuyera Adventist College, Ethiopia)

  • Bachelor of Arts in Business Management (Alpha University, Ethiopia)

  • Diploma in Veterinary Medicine (Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia)

Hobbies

I enjoy visiting historical places, chatting with people and reading books.

I organised a team and convinced the head of the district to purchase mules for transportation and introduce mobile health services, which was eventually adopted by the government.

Most memorable work moment

I started my career as a veterinary clinician. I worked in one of the most remote areas in Ethiopia where access to veterinary health services was very challenging; where basic infrastructures were rare to the community. Operating in this area was very difficult but I was happy to stay there and offer my support. Providing veterinary care for this community gave me maximum satisfaction. I organised a team and convinced the head of the district to purchase mules for transportation and introduce mobile health services, which was eventually adopted by the government. 

Best part of your job

I feel my life is connected with animals, currently with more focus on donkeys, horses and mules, and I have good insight into the lives of people who depend on these animals for a living. I am tireless in appraising animal welfare conditions — I strive to understand the problem, and support owners to be sympathetic towards their animals. Identifying the problem and designing the tailored solution is the best part of my job.

How did you get your job?

I started my career as a veterinary clinician and served as district head of veterinary service, agriculture and rural development coordinator, and animal health instructor at a veterinary training college. I had also worked as a research assistant in one of Edinburgh University wildlife conservation projects in Ethiopia, which focused on developing effective rabies control measures for endangered endemic Ethiopian wolves. Years ago, when I saw the job description for an animal welfare assessor at Brooke, it seemed like the appropriate place for my expertise and aspirations, and I didn’t hesitate to take a chance. I am now fully immersed in Brooke's work and I believe I have contributed much toward the current development of the country programme.