Professional Summary
Dr. Eng. Mekete Dessie Wosenie is one of Ethiopia’s highly experienced senior water professionals, combining more than 25 years of academic leadership, hydrological research, irrigation engineering, dam engineering, water resources consultancy, and international project experience. He is an Associate Professor at Bahir Dar University and a professional engineer whose work connects advanced hydrological science with practical water infrastructure development. His background includes a PhD in Land and Water Management with specialization in Hydrology from Ghent University, Belgium, an MSc in Water Resources Management from Leuphana University in Germany, and a BSc in Irrigation Engineering from Arba Minch University. His professional contribution is exceptional because it spans the full water-development cycle: hydrological investigation, feasibility study, detailed engineering design, dam safety review, irrigation infrastructure design, water supply and sanitation construction supervision, flood and drought assessment, climate-smart water management, construction quality assurance, and research-based decision support. He has contributed to major projects in Ethiopia, Uganda, Somaliland, DR Congo, and Kosovo, including World Bank-supported reservoir and dam safety work, UN-Habitat water resource studies for IDP sites, FCDO/BMB Mott MacDonald-supported climate-smart agriculture and water projects in Somaliland, the 5,000 ha Jambo Farm Irrigation Project in DR Congo, large-scale irrigation projects in Ethiopia, earth dam and multipurpose water systems in Uganda, dam failure investigation in Ethiopia, and water supply and sanitation construction supervision. In research and academic leadership, he has made major contributions to Lake Tana, Beles Basin, and Upper Blue Nile Basin hydrology, including water balance analysis, river discharge, floodplain hydrology, sediment budgets, groundwater-surface water interactions, irrigation water productivity, climate impact assessment, and scenario-based decision support for integrated water resources management. At Bahir Dar University, he has taught advanced hydrology, embankment dam design, hydraulic structures, hydrologic measurements, time series analysis, and advanced dam engineering. He has supervised and promoted MSc and PhD students, led research grants, published widely in peer-reviewed journals, and contributed to international cooperation programs with Flemish universities, Ghent University, VLIR-UOS, and Japanese research partnerships. His profile brings exceptional value to AquaLinked / Water for Africa Experts because he represents a rare combination of senior academic authority, practical engineering consultancy, dam and irrigation design experience, international development work, and deep hydrological research expertise. He is well positioned to support climate-resilient water infrastructure, dam safety, irrigation development, flood and drought risk management, and capacity building across Africa and beyond.
Key Expertise
Major Projects and Contributions
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Hydrological and Water Resource Studies for IDP Sites in Ethiopia – UN-Habitat
Served as Hydrologist and Water Resources Engineer for UN-Habitat, conducting hydrological and water resource assessments for nine IDP sites in Ethiopia. His work included water availability assessment, seasonal variation analysis, demand projection, flood vulnerability assessment, flood and drought mitigation planning, and identification of sustainable water options using economic efficiency, social equity, and environmental sustainability principles. -
Kike-Kremenata Multipurpose Reservoir Project – Kosovo World Bank Dam Safety Panel
Served as Senior Hydrology and Hydraulic Specialist on the dam safety panel of experts for the World Bank-supported Kike-Kremenata multipurpose reservoir project in Kosovo. Reviewed hydrological and hydraulic design reports, dam operation and maintenance plans, emergency preparedness frameworks, and dam safety protocols, while participating in technical meetings with consultants, financiers, and the client. -
Climate Smart Dryland Agriculture Potential Assessment – Somaliland
Worked as Hydrologist and Irrigation Specialist for the Climate Smart Dryland Agriculture Potential Assessment in Somaliland, supported by FCDO and managed by BMB Mott MacDonald. Assessed water management practices, irrigation potential, water availability and demand, land suitability for climate-smart water management, and peak flood estimation for spate irrigation development. -
Qool Caday Livestock Holding Centre Feasibility Study – Somaliland
Served as Hydrologist for the feasibility study of the Qool Caday livestock holding centre in Somaliland. Estimated project water demands, assessed water availability and water quality, identified appropriate water management infrastructure, and supported capacity-building requirements for livestock-centred water development. -
Jambo Farm Irrigation Project, 5,000 ha – Democratic Republic of Congo
Served as Senior Hydrologist and Deputy Team Leader for the Jambo Farm Project in DR Congo, designed to irrigate 5,000 hectares of land. Led hydrological studies and design requirements, provided direction to multidisciplinary specialists, delegated technical tasks, coordinated with the client project manager, and ensured quality control of specialist studies. -
Gilgel Abay, Megech and Jemma Large-Scale Irrigation Projects – Ethiopia
Served as Senior Consultant and Coordinator for the revision of engineering feasibility studies and detailed designs for the Gilgel Abay, Megech and Jemma large-scale irrigation projects in Ethiopia. Managed multidisciplinary teams, prepared work plans and terms of reference, reviewed hydrological studies, designs, drawings, bills of quantities, cost estimates, technical specifications, and presented the studies and designs to the client. -
Xaaxi Spate Irrigation Project – Somaliland
Served as Hydrologist for the feasibility study and detailed design of the Xaaxi Spate Irrigation Project in Somaliland. Processed hydro-meteorological data, conducted rainfall statistics, delineated catchments, performed rainfall-runoff modelling, analysed sediment transport, estimated crop water requirements, calculated design floods, and compiled the hydrological feasibility study. -
Ilaan Dam Feasibility Study and Detailed Design – Somaliland
Served as Team Leader and Dam Engineer for the Ilaan Dam Project in Somaliland. Provided technical guidance to the consultancy team, prepared detailed work plans, carried out rainfall-runoff modelling, compiled hydrological feasibility studies, evaluated geotechnical investigation results, assessed construction materials, selected dam site and dam type, investigated reservoir watertightness, and consulted with local communities. -
Ilbahi Dam Failure Investigation Study – Ethiopia
Served as Team Leader and Principal Investigator for the Ilbahi Dam failure investigation study. Reviewed existing dam conditions, conducted reservoir bathymetry, produced revised elevation-area-capacity curves, investigated catchment changes, analysed hydrometeorological data, assessed rainfall trends, synthesized inflows, investigated sedimentation, identified causes of hydrological failure, and recommended measures to improve dam performance. -
Yifag Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project – Ethiopia
Served as Project Manager for the Yifag Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project. Checked and approved executed works, verified construction materials, supervised workmanship quality, issued acceptance certificates, approved payment certificates, provided site design solutions, monitored construction progress, quality and cost, prepared progress and quality control reports, and supported compensation and resettlement consultations. -
BDU-IUC Hydro(geo)logy Research Project – VLIR-UOS, Bahir Dar University
Served as Local Project Leader for the Hydro(geo)logy Research Project under the BDU-IUC five-year grant program funded by VLIR-UOS Belgium. Prepared successful grant proposals, led the research team, supervised installation and monitoring of hydrological equipment, approved hydrometeorological data processing, supervised water balance studies in Lake Tana and Beles basins, developed hydrological modelling approaches, reported to the donor, and published findings in peer-reviewed journals. -
Geregere and Kyenshama Earth Dams and Multipurpose Water Systems – Uganda
Served as Team Leader and Hydraulic Engineer for the detailed design and supervision of Geregere and Kyenshama earth dams and multipurpose water systems in Uganda. Managed multidisciplinary experts, studied climate change impacts on hydrology, supervised topographic surveys, estimated evaporation, seepage and water demand, determined inflow hydrographs, conducted reservoir routing, fixed spillway design floods, prepared hydrological feasibility reports, designed dam and appurtenant structures, prepared drawings, BoQ, specifications and tender documents. -
Zilihi and Shina Irrigation Projects – Ethiopia
Served as Project Coordinator and Chief Engineer for feasibility study and detailed design of Zilihi and Shina Irrigation Projects. Led the study and design team, analysed rainfall statistics, computed design floods, prepared hydrological feasibility studies, designed diversion weirs, irrigation layouts, canal networks, canal structures, farm drainage, farm roads, technical specifications, bills of quantities, tender documents and implementation plans. -
Wase-Tana Research Project – Lake Tana Basin Hydrology
Served as Principal Researcher for the Wase-Tana Research Project between Bahir Dar University and Ghent University, funded by VLIR-UOS Belgium. Studied Lake Tana water balance components, installed hydrological monitoring equipment, prepared rating curves, converted water-level measurements into river discharge, investigated floodplain hydrology, developed a conceptual hydrological model, created scenario-based decision support for integrated management of Lake Tana water resources, and published multiple peer-reviewed papers. -
Kesem-Kebena Large-Scale Sugarcane Irrigation Project – Ethiopia
Worked as Hydraulic and Irrigation Engineer on the feasibility study and detailed design of the Kesem-Kebena irrigation sugarcane project. Coordinated project activities, estimated irrigation water demand using FAO CROPWAT, planned command area development, designed irrigation and drainage systems for a project covering more than 20,000 hectares, prepared working drawings, bills of quantities, technical specifications, tender documents, and operation and maintenance strategies. -
Water Resources Project Planning and Design in Amhara Region – Ethiopia
Served as Team Leader and Design Engineer for multiple water resources development projects in Amhara Region. Led teams in identifying irrigation water sources, conducting hydrological feasibility studies, designing diversion weirs, pumping stations, dams and appurtenant structures, irrigation systems, canal networks, drainage systems and farm roads, preparing tender documents, and presenting technical studies to clients. -
SATREPS and Land-Water Research Leadership – Ethiopia and Japan Collaboration
Contributed as a research team member under the SATREPS program supported by the Government of Japan. Worked on soil erosion prediction, sediment budget analysis, alternative future land and water management scenarios, research design, grant proposal development, international collaboration, and scientific communication. -
Academic Leadership, Graduate Teaching and Research Supervision – Bahir Dar University
Teaches advanced hydrology, embankment dam design and analysis, hydraulic structures, hydrologic measurements, time series analysis, and advanced dam engineering and rehabilitation at MSc and PhD levels. Has supervised and promoted PhD and MSc students, managed research grants, contributed to international conferences, published widely in peer-reviewed journals, and strengthened capacity building in hydrology, dam engineering, irrigation and water resources management.