Dr. Assefa Eyassu Debessay

Professional Summary

Highly experienced Ethiopian hydrogeologist, geohydrologist, groundwater modeller, WASH specialist, and water-sector consultant with more than three decades of service in water supply, sanitation, groundwater development, hydrology, project evaluation, strategic planning, and donor-supported development programs. Dr. Assefa Eyassu Debessay holds a PhD in Geological Engineering / Hydrogeology, an MSc in Water Science Engineering with specialization in Hydrology from IHE Delft, and a BSc in Geology and Geophysics from Addis Ababa University. His career includes leadership in Addis Ababa water supply and sewerage project study and design, World Bank-supported rural WASH coordination, groundwater modelling for Addis Ababa, Awash and Blue Nile areas, borehole siting and drilling supervision, and more than 50 consultancy studies and evaluations in WASH, livelihood, health, education, emergency response, and food security. His profile represents senior national expertise in groundwater, WASH systems, project leadership, and practical water-sector transformation in Ethiopia.

Key Expertise

Major Projects and Contributions

• Lead Consultant – Assefa Eyassu Consult
  Serves as team leader and lead consultant providing senior consultancy services in WASH, water supply, sanitation, livelihood, health, education, emergency response, project development, feasibility studies, performance evaluation, and strategic program support.
• Groundwater Flow Modelling for Addis Ababa, Awash and Blue Nile Areas
  Actively engaged in steady-state and transient groundwater flow modelling for Addis Ababa, the Awash area, and portions of the Blue Nile area, supporting groundwater understanding, planning, and development decision-making.
• Hydrogeology and Groundwater Development Research
  Conducted PhD and MSc research focused on groundwater flow modelling and hydrogeological systems, with professional research interests in steady and time-dependent groundwater flow, groundwater development, drought vulnerability, and Rift Valley water resources.
• Published Research on Rift Valley Groundwater and Water Supply
  Published internationally on groundwater development for town water supply and irrigation in Rift Valley plains, challenges of groundwater development for towns and big cities, and comparison of river base-flow separation methods and drought vulnerability in the Upper Awash area.
• WASH, Livelihood, Health and Education Consultancy Studies
  Produced more than 50 consultancy reports, including WASH, livelihood, education, health, emergency response, food security, performance evaluation, formative research, baseline studies, end-line surveys, feasibility studies, and program evaluations for government, donor and NGO-supported projects.
• Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority – Study and Design Leadership
  Served as Head of the Study and Design Department under the Water Supply and Sanitation Project Development Office, coordinating studies, designs, procurement, TOR preparation, report review, donor engagement, deep well development, distribution networks, sewerage projects, dams, ESIA review, and water supply project planning.
• World Bank Rural WASH Program Coordination – SNNP Region
  Coordinated the World Bank-supported Rural WASH program in SNNP Region, supervising implementation, monitoring and evaluation, payment certificate approval, institutional support, procurement planning, financial management follow-up, and technical mentoring for regional and local WASH teams.
• Water Supply and Sanitation Project Appraisal and Feasibility Work
  Worked on project appraisal, feasibility studies, financing agreements, tender document preparation, procurement, supervision, post-completion monitoring and evaluation, and project implementation support for numerous water supply and sanitation projects under ESRDF and related programs.
• Borehole Siting, Drilling Supervision and Well-Based Project Evaluation
  Conducted well-site selection, drilling supervision, and evaluation of well-based water supply projects, contributing practical hydrogeological field expertise to groundwater development and water supply interventions.
• Strategic Planning, Project Cycle Management and MEAL Systems
  Provides leadership in project cycle management, strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning systems, sector-specific indicators, evaluation design, reporting, program budget oversight, and performance measurement for complex water and development programs.
• Procurement, Tendering and Contract Administration for Water Projects
  Prepared tender documents, contract documents, procurement packages, bid processes, contract administration systems, payment processing, provisional acceptance and final acceptance arrangements for water supply, sanitation, drilling, pump, pipe and infrastructure projects.
• Emergency WASH, Disaster Risk Reduction and Complex Environment Programming
  Contributes senior experience in emergency WASH, livelihood support, disaster risk reduction, gender and diversity, safeguarding, conflict sensitivity, social cohesion, and service delivery in complex emergency and low-resource environments.