Professional Summary
Dr. Tewodros Taffese Assefa is an Ethiopian Associate Professor and international consultant specializing in irrigation, water resources, agricultural water management, hydrology, remote sensing, geospatial analysis, hydrological modelling, and climate-resilient water and food systems. He holds a Ph.D. in Energy and Environmental Systems from North Carolina A&T State University, an MSc in Water Resource Engineering (Hydrology) from Bahir Dar University, and a BSc in Hydraulic and Water Resource Engineering from Arba Minch University. Based at Bahir Dar University, he has served as Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Lecturer, Chair of the Department of Irrigation Engineering and Management, and consultant for major international and regional organizations including IWMI, USAID-funded innovation labs, CGIAR initiatives, and government partners. His work connects academic excellence with practical water-management solutions for irrigation, groundwater, watershed systems, agricultural intensification, and climate adaptation in Africa. He has led or co-led major projects such as IrrEO irrigated area mapping, irrigation scheme inventory and digitalization in Amhara Region, scalable soil and water management for food security, USAID ILSSI and SIIL activities, ASMC solar-powered irrigation research, IWMI Nexus Gains and WEFE-nexus studies, groundwater potential assessment in Ethiopia, and water security assessments in fragile and drought-affected regions. With more than 70 peer-reviewed publications, extensive graduate advising, and training experience in Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, and the United States, Dr. Assefa represents a highly accomplished African water scientist whose work advances resilient food systems, sustainable irrigation, water security, digital decision support, and evidence-based water policy.
Key Expertise
Major Projects and Contributions
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Associate Professor and Water Resources Academic Leader – Bahir Dar University
Serves as Associate Professor in Irrigation and Water Resources at Bahir Dar University, with previous service as Chair of the Department of Irrigation Engineering and Management, Assistant Professor, Lecturer, and graduate advisor in water resources, irrigation, hydrology, GIS, remote sensing, and modelling. -
IrrEO: Irrigated Area Mapping Tool Development and Deployment
Principal Investigator for the IrrEO project, supported by the University of Michigan and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leading the development and deployment of tools for irrigated area mapping from 2025 to 2029. -
Irrigation Scheme Inventory and Digitalization in Amhara Regional State
Co-Principal Investigator for the digitalization of irrigation infrastructure data in Amhara Regional State, supporting improved irrigation scheme inventory, planning, monitoring, and water-management decision-making. -
Scalable and Effective Soil and Water Management for Food Security
Co-Principal Investigator on scalable soil and water management work aimed at advancing sustainable intensification, food security, field-to-landscape water management, and resilient agricultural systems. -
USAID Innovation Lab for Small-Scale Irrigation (ILSSI)
Served as PhD Fellow and later coordinator of an ILSSI innovation grant through IWMI, identifying pathways to scale small-scale irrigation in Ethiopia and supporting agricultural water management solutions for smallholder systems. -
Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab (SIIL) Research and Capacity Building
Led SIIL-supported work on capacity building for Ethiopian agricultural universities and small-scale irrigation production systems involving vegetable, corn, forage, and conservation agriculture approaches. -
Appropriate Scale Mechanization Consortium (ASMC)
Co-Principal Investigator for ASMC work evaluating solar-powered irrigation, Maji solar pump systems, conservation agriculture, water lifting technologies, and smallholder agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. -
IWMI Nexus Gains and WEFE Nexus Water Resources Assessments
Conducted integrated water storage assessments and WEFE nexus analysis in the Tana-Beles sub-basin of Ethiopia and modeled water availability for cocoa production in Ghana's Upper Offin basin using SWAT. -
Fragility, Conflict, and Migration Water Security Assessment
Assessed water resources availability, accessibility, and technology needs for addressing water security challenges in drought-affected districts of Ethiopia's Somali Region under CGIAR and IWMI initiatives. -
Groundwater Potential Assessment in Afar and Sidama Regions
Served as consultant on groundwater potential assessment in the Gewane-Adaytu area of Afar Region and the Yirgalem area of Sidama Region, supporting improved understanding of groundwater resources in Ethiopia. -
Lake Tana Watershed Water Use and Ecosystem Resilience Study
Contributed to the Lake Tana Watershed reference study assessing current and future water use, water quality impacts, water supply, and ecosystem resilience for sustainable watershed planning. -
Research Publications, Graduate Supervision, and African Capacity Building
Authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications, advised MSc and PhD students, and delivered training on IDSS, SWAT, APEX, GIS, and water-management decision-support tools in Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, and international academic settings.