Professional Summary
Dr.-Ing. Netsanet Zelalem Cherie is a PhD-qualified Senior Hydrologist, Hydraulic Engineer, Dam Safety Expert, and Registered Practicing Professional Water Resources Engineer with more than 20 years of distinguished experience in water resources engineering, hydrology, dam and irrigation projects, flood risk assessment, drainage design, climate modelling, and large-scale infrastructure delivery across East Africa. He holds a PhD in Water Resources and Climate Modelling from the University of Kassel in Germany, an MSc in Hydraulic and Hydropower Engineering from Arba Minch University, and a BSc in Irrigation Engineering from Arba Minch Water Technology Institute. He is registered with the Engineers Registration Board of Tanzania as a Professional Water Resources Engineer and Practicing Professional Water Resources Engineer. His current role as Senior Hydrologist and Project Coordinator with NETWAS Tanzania Ltd places him at the center of major irrigation and water infrastructure development in Tanzania. He leads hydrological work for 32 irrigation schemes covering approximately 46,000 hectares and directs feasibility and detailed engineering design for irrigation schemes in Arusha Region covering approximately 14,550 hectares. His technical work includes catchment analysis, IDF curve review, HEC-HMS rainfall-runoff modelling, hydraulic design of channels and drainage systems, field verification of waterways and floodplains, scour protection assessment, erosion control planning, construction-stage flood risk monitoring, and preparation of hydrological inputs for feasibility reports, RFIs and as-built documentation. Before his current role, he served as Project Manager and Senior Hydrologist with Continental Consultants, managing hydrological studies for Ngomai Dam, Ngono Valley, Dirim-Tumati-Dongobesh Dam, and Makondeko Dam. His contribution included PMF estimation, 100-year flood analysis, spillway design, reservoir routing, sediment yield assessment, reservoir lifespan analysis, river training, technical specifications, and tender documentation. His earlier Ethiopian experience includes irrigation potential assessment and hydrological surveys at Debre Berhan University, post-conflict water supply and sanitation infrastructure reconstruction, World Bank-financed irrigation scheme feasibility and design in Sidama and Gedeo zones, DFID/AfDB/UNICEF-supported climate-resilient WASH work, and hydrological analysis for irrigation and flood-risk planning. Dr. Netsanet’s professional strength is rare because he combines PhD-level climate and water resources science with hands-on hydrological engineering for real dams, irrigation schemes, waterways, floodplains, drainage systems, and construction-stage hydraulic risk. He understands both the science of water and the practical responsibility of designing infrastructure that protects communities, supports agriculture, and remains resilient under climate uncertainty. His profile brings exceptional value to AquaLinked / Water for Africa Experts because he represents senior African engineering excellence: technically authoritative, registered, field-tested, climate-aware, and capable of leading complex hydrology, dam safety, irrigation, flood-risk, and water infrastructure assignments across Africa.
Key Expertise
Major Projects and Contributions
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Lead Hydrologist for 32 Irrigation Schemes in Tanzania – 46,000 ha
Serves as lead hydrologist for 32 irrigation schemes covering approximately 46,000 hectares across Tanzania. His work includes catchment analysis, IDF curve review, HEC-HMS rainfall-runoff modelling, hydrological inputs for headworks and dam design, and coordination with irrigation and water authorities. -
Arusha Region Irrigation Feasibility and Detailed Engineering Design – 14,550 ha
Directs feasibility study and detailed engineering design for irrigation schemes in Arusha Region covering approximately 14,550 hectares, including hydraulic design of channels, drainage systems and flood conveyance capacity. -
Field Verification of Waterways, Floodplains and Drainage Conditions
Carries out field verification of waterways, floodplains and drainage conditions against design assumptions, helping ensure that hydraulic designs respond to real site conditions, flood pathways, erosion risks and construction-stage realities. -
Flood Risk Monitoring During Construction
Monitors flood risks and water levels during construction phases and verifies the hydraulic performance of structures including weirs, intakes and cross-drainage works, supporting safer construction and climate-resilient infrastructure delivery. -
Scour Protection, Erosion Control and River Training Assessment
Assesses scour protection, erosion control and river training requirements for irrigation and dam-related infrastructure, helping protect hydraulic structures, channels, embankments and flood conveyance systems. -
Ngomai Dam and Irrigation Project – Tanzania
Managed hydrological studies for the Ngomai Dam and irrigation project covering approximately 4,600 hectares, including catchment characterization, flood frequency analysis, reservoir routing, PMF-related analysis and spillway design support. -
Ngono Valley Dam and Irrigation Project – Tanzania
Managed hydrological studies for the Ngono Valley Dam and irrigation project covering approximately 16,000 hectares, including water availability assessment, flood analysis, reservoir simulation, sediment considerations and irrigation development support. -
Dirim-Tumati-Dongobesh Dam and Irrigation Project – Tanzania
Managed hydrological studies for the Dirim-Tumati-Dongobesh Dam and irrigation project covering approximately 2,500 hectares, including multi-dam hydrology, catchment analysis, flood frequency assessment and hydraulic design support. -
Makondeko Dam and Irrigation Project – Tanzania
Managed hydrological studies for the Makondeko Dam and irrigation project covering approximately 5,600 hectares, including flood frequency analysis, reservoir routing, sediment yield analysis, reservoir lifespan assessment and spillway-related hydrological design. -
PMF, 100-Year Flood and Spillway Design Support
Performed extreme-event hydrological analysis including PMF estimation and 100-year return-period flood analysis to support spillway design, flood conveyance structures and dam safety decision-making. -
Reservoir Sediment Yield and Lifespan Assessment
Analysed sediment yield and reservoir lifespan for dam and irrigation projects, helping identify long-term sustainability risks, sediment management needs and infrastructure performance constraints. -
Hydrological Reports, Technical Specifications and Tender Documentation
Prepared comprehensive hydrological reports, technical specifications and tender documentation compliant with Tanzania water-sector requirements, supporting transparent procurement, defensible design and professional project delivery. -
Irrigation Potential Assessment and Hydrological Surveys – North Shewa Zone
Led irrigation potential assessment and hydrological surveys in North Shewa Zone, including catchment delineation, runoff modelling and flood risk mapping to support agricultural water development. -
Post-Conflict Water Supply and Sanitation Reconstruction – Ethiopia
Served as hydraulic engineer for post-conflict reconstruction projects valued at approximately ETB 53.5 million, restoring water supply and sanitation infrastructure and supervising site verification of drainage conditions. -
Academic Research and MSc Supervision – Debre Berhan University
Led academic hydrology and water resources work at Debre Berhan University, supervised MSc research, and delivered instruction in Stochastic Hydrology, Dam Engineering and Water Supply. -
World Bank-Financed Small-Scale Irrigation Schemes – Sidama and Gedeo
Conducted feasibility studies and detailed designs for World Bank-financed small-scale irrigation schemes in Sidama and Gedeo zones, including DEM-based catchment characterization, flow duration curves, flood frequency analysis and IDF curve preparation. -
Gesuba WASH Project – DFID, AfDB and UNICEF-Supported Work
Worked as hydrologist on the Gesuba WASH Project, designing climate-resilient water supply systems through hydrologic and meteorological data analysis, command area drainage, flood crossing structures, reservoir simulations for dry-season supply reliability and as-built documentation. -
Hydrology and Irrigation Engineering with South Design and Construction Supervision Enterprise
Processed and interpreted hydro-meteorological data to characterize watershed drainage, runoff and sediment yield; determined design floods; and delineated flood extents across return periods for flood-risk mitigation planning. -
PhD Research in Water Resources and Climate Modelling – University of Kassel
Completed PhD research in Water Resources and Climate Modelling at the University of Kassel, Germany, strengthening his expertise in climate impacts, hydrological response and long-term water resources planning. -
Registered Professional Water Resources Engineer – Tanzania ERB
Registered with the Engineers Registration Board of Tanzania as Professional Water Resources Engineer, ID 3363, and Registered Practicing Professional Water Resources Engineer, RPWRE/296, reflecting recognized professional authority in water resources practice. -
Climate-Resilient Hydraulic Design in Data-Scarce Environments
Aims to advance robust flood estimation, PMF computation, spillway design and defensible hydrological design methods for data-scarce East African catchments where long-term hydro-meteorological records are limited. -
Dam Safety Review and Independent Technical Oversight
Aims to contribute to dam safety review, independent technical oversight, regionally adapted dam safety guidelines, spillway hydraulics, reservoir routing, seepage review and safety frameworks for East African water infrastructure. -
Integrated Sediment Management and Reservoir Lifespan Optimization
Aims to support integrated sediment management strategies combining catchment erosion control, reservoir operation, flushing protocols and adaptive management to extend the service life of dams and irrigation infrastructure. -
Hydrological Modelling Standards and Capacity Building for East Africa
Aims to contribute to regional hydrological modelling guidelines, professional training curricula and mentorship programmes for practicing engineers and young water resources professionals in Tanzania, Ethiopia and East Africa. -
Food Security Through Sustainable Irrigation Development
Aims to strengthen food security through sustainable irrigation planning that balances water availability, irrigation demand, environmental flows, community livelihoods and long-term climate resilience. -
Future Contribution: Multi-Dam System Hydrology and Cascade Risk Assessment
Aims to contribute to cascade flood modelling, coordinated dam operation frameworks, system-level hydrological risk assessment and multi-reservoir safety analysis for basins where multiple dams interact hydrologically.