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AE African Expert Database
Eng. Ashebir Tesfaye Debelo
Expert Profile

Eng. Ashebir Tesfaye Debelo

Senior Hydraulic Engineer | Dam, Irrigation & Water Supply Infrastructure Specialist
📍 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Verified ExpertContributorReviewedSenior
Open to Collaboration

Professional Summary

Ethiopian Senior Hydraulic Engineer and water infrastructure specialist based in Addis Ababa, with more than 12 years of professional experience in hydraulic engineering, dam and headwork design, irrigation systems, water supply infrastructure, hydraulic and structural design, construction supervision, resident engineering, and contract administration. He holds an MSc in Civil Engineering with specialization in Hydraulic Engineering from Addis Ababa University Institute of Technology and a BSc in Water Resource and Irrigation Engineering from Hawassa University. His professional background includes work on embankment dams, sand dams, irrigation canals, headworks, spillways, intake structures, reservoirs, pipe systems, water supply facilities, hydraulic structures, and major construction supervision assignments. He has served in senior engineering, resident engineering, site engineering, structural design, office engineering, and materials laboratory roles on national and donor-funded water infrastructure projects. His work includes projects supported by international development partners such as the African Development Bank and KfW Development Bank. Ashebir combines strong field supervision experience with office-based hydraulic and structural design, technical reporting, BOQ preparation, tender documentation, payment certification, claims review, variation order assessment, quality control, environmental and safety compliance, and coordination with contractors, consultants, clients, government stakeholders, and funding agencies. His professional contribution is highly relevant for sustainable water infrastructure development, irrigation expansion, climate resilience, dam safety, and community water supply improvement in Ethiopia and across Africa.

Key Expertise

Hydraulic Engineering Dam and Headwork Design Embankment Dams Sand Dams Spillways Intake Structures Reservoirs Irrigation Engineering Irrigation Canal Design Water Supply Infrastructure Water Resources Engineering Hydraulic Structures Structural Design Construction Supervision Resident Engineering Site Supervision Contract Administration FIDIC Procedures Claims Management Variation Orders Payment Certificates BOQ Preparation Technical Specifications Tender Documents Technical Reporting Donor-Funded Projects African Development Bank Projects KfW Development Bank Projects Quality Control Environmental Health and Safety Compliance Project Scheduling MS Project Primavera AutoCAD Civil 3D GIS Global Mapper SAP Structural Analysis GEOSTUDIO Stakeholder Coordination Multidisciplinary Team Leadership Emergency Water Supply and Drought-Response Infrastructure

Major Projects and Contributions

  • Senior Hydraulic Engineer – ECDSWC Head Office and Site Projects
    Leads hydraulic engineering design activities for dams, irrigation schemes, water supply systems, and related hydraulic structures. Prepares and reviews engineering drawings, BOQs, technical specifications, tender documents, contract documents, hydraulic calculations, engineering analyses, and technical reports while coordinating field investigations, hydrological studies, surveys, and construction supervision activities.
  • National Resident Engineer – Kori Sand Dam and Water Supply Project
    Served as National Resident Engineer for the Kori Sand Dam and Water Supply Project under GITEC-IGIP GmbH Germany / SSD Ethiopia Consortium. Led construction supervision, contract administration, claims management, formal contractual communication, schedule monitoring, budget performance, resource mobilization, quality control, environmental and safety compliance, technical reporting, and stakeholder coordination.
  • Senior Hydraulic Engineer – Hydraulic and Structural Design of Water Infrastructure
    Conducted hydraulic and structural design of water infrastructure and hydraulic structures, including preparation of engineering drawings, technical reports, BOQs, tender documents, design reviews, technical evaluations, field investigations, data collection, multidisciplinary coordination, and construction quality supervision.
  • Resident Engineer – Kalada Dam and Water Supply Project
    Managed construction supervision of dam and water supply infrastructure, supervised contractor performance, reviewed schedules and payment certificates, verified executed quantities, monitored technical specification compliance, advised clients and contractors, coordinated site supervision teams, prepared monthly and quarterly reports, and supported variation order evaluation.
  • Office Engineer – Kesem Dam and Irrigation Project
    Reviewed project scope, drawings, specifications, and technical documents for the Kesem Dam and Irrigation Project. Maintained contract files and engineering records, prepared documentation for variation orders and additional works, supported weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual progress reporting, and coordinated communication between project management and supervision teams.
  • Site Engineer – Kuras Right Bank Main Canal Construction Project
    Supervised construction activities for the Kuras Right Bank Main Canal Construction Project according to approved drawings and specifications. Conducted site inspections, quality control activities, quantity verification for payment certificates, daily and weekly progress reporting, and construction progress monitoring under the Resident Engineer.
  • Structural Engineer – Hydraulic Structures and Water Infrastructure Designs
    Performed structural analysis and design of hydraulic structures and ancillary buildings, prepared structural drawings, design calculations, engineering specifications, and technical reports, and participated in design reviews and engineering evaluations for irrigation, water supply, dam, and hydraulic infrastructure projects.
  • Materials Laboratory Analyst – Water Works Design and Supervision Enterprise
    Conducted construction materials testing and laboratory analysis, evaluated engineering properties and material quality, and prepared laboratory reports and testing documentation to support infrastructure quality assurance and construction supervision works.
  • Donor-Funded Water Infrastructure Project Implementation
    Contributed to water infrastructure projects financed by international development partners, including the African Development Bank and KfW Development Bank. Supported donor-compliant reporting, contract procedures, construction supervision, stakeholder coordination, technical documentation, environmental and safety compliance, and project performance monitoring.
  • Dam, Irrigation, and Water Supply Infrastructure Portfolio
    Developed practical experience across dam, irrigation, and water supply infrastructure, including embankment dams, sand dams, spillways, intake structures, reservoirs, irrigation canals, pipe crossings, pump stations, water supply systems, head regulators, cross regulators, aqueducts, syphons, transmission structures, chlorination rooms, generator houses, and ancillary buildings.