Eng. Zebene Teshome Ayalew | African Expert Database

Professional Summary

Eng. Zebene Teshome Ayalew is an Ethiopian WASH and Construction Officer, Hydraulic Engineering specialist, and Civil Water Works Engineer with more than 10 years of experience in humanitarian, recovery, and development programs. His professional work focuses on emergency WASH response, water supply systems, sanitation infrastructure, solar-powered water systems, health facility construction, school infrastructure rehabilitation, irrigation works, dam projects, and community infrastructure development. He holds an MSc in Hydraulic Engineering from Bahir Dar University and a BSc in Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering from Hawassa University. His expertise combines technical engineering design with humanitarian field implementation, including feasibility assessment, technical drawings, BOQ preparation, cost estimation, procurement follow-up, contract administration, contractor supervision, quality assurance, commissioning, donor compliance, and stakeholder coordination. Across his career, he has contributed to WASH and infrastructure projects benefiting more than 65,000 people, including emergency water-supply rehabilitation, solar-powered water systems, health facility construction, gender-responsive sanitation facilities, school-block rehabilitation, and infrastructure support for crisis-affected communities. His work reflects strong field leadership, engineering discipline, humanitarian responsibility, and practical commitment to restoring dignity, safety, and essential services for vulnerable communities. He has served with Medical Teams International, CARE International in Ethiopia, World Vision Ethiopia, Lihiket Design & Supervision Corporation, and Woldia University. Through these roles, he has supported refugee settlements, post-conflict recovery areas, schools, health facilities, and community infrastructure systems, while applying Sphere Standards, donor requirements, national engineering standards, and professional construction-quality principles.

Key Expertise

WASH Emergency WASH Response Humanitarian Infrastructure Hydraulic Engineering Civil Water Works Engineering Water Supply System Design Solar-Powered Water Systems Sanitation Infrastructure Health Facility Construction School Infrastructure Rehabilitation Gender-Segregated Latrine Construction Emergency Water Scheme Rehabilitation Irrigation Engineering Dam Design BOQ Preparation Cost Estimation Technical Drawings Contractor Management Construction Supervision Quality Assurance Quality Control Procurement Follow-Up Contract Administration Commissioning Donor Compliance USAID Compliance UNICEF Compliance ECW Programming ECHO Programming Sphere Standards Humanitarian Principles National Building Codes Rapid Needs Assessment Cluster-Based Humanitarian Coordination Integrated Humanitarian Programming WASH Kit Distribution Community Infrastructure Development AutoCAD Civil 3D WaterCAD MS Project Technical Reporting Stakeholder Coordination Student Mentoring Engineering Training

Major Projects and Contributions

WASH and Health Facility Construction – Medical Teams International
Leads planning, technical design, BOQ preparation, cost estimation, contractor supervision, quality control, and progress reporting for WASH and health facility construction projects in Sudanese refugee settlement contexts, ensuring compliance with technical specifications, Sphere Standards, and national building codes.
Emergency WASH Response and Zonal Coordination – CARE International in Ethiopia
Served as WASH Officer and Zonal Lead, supporting emergency water-supply rehabilitation, gender-segregated latrine construction in health centers, WASH kit distribution, rapid needs assessments, and cluster-based humanitarian coordination across affected areas of Amhara Region.
School Rehabilitation and Water Works – World Vision Ethiopia
Managed school rehabilitation, latrine construction, water scheme rehabilitation, and temporary learning center construction under the ECW program, helping more than 10,000 crisis-affected children return to safer learning environments.
Large-Scale WASH Infrastructure Benefiting 65,000+ People
Contributed to more than 57 WASH and infrastructure projects that improved safe water access, sanitation, community services, and emergency recovery support for over 65,000 beneficiaries in humanitarian and development contexts.
Solar-Powered Water Systems and Emergency Water Rehabilitation
Supported the planning, design, supervision, and delivery of solar-powered water systems and emergency water-supply rehabilitation works, improving reliable water access in vulnerable and conflict-affected communities.
Water Supply, Irrigation, and Dam Design – Lihiket Design & Supervision Corporation
Designed and supervised water supply, irrigation, and dam projects in Amhara Region, applying hydraulic engineering, resilient infrastructure design, technical drawing preparation, and construction-supervision principles.
Hydraulic Engineering Teaching and Student Mentoring – Woldia University
Served as Assistant Lecturer in hydraulic and water resources engineering, teaching undergraduate courses, supervising senior design projects, and mentoring engineering students in practical water-resources and hydraulic-engineering solutions.
Humanitarian Engineering Quality, Compliance, and Contractor Management
Applies engineering discipline to humanitarian infrastructure delivery through contractor management, BOQ and cost control, technical reporting, donor compliance, quality assurance, commissioning, Sphere Standards, and coordination with health, nutrition, protection, and WASH teams.