AE African Expert Database
Eng. Yimenu Belachew Abebe
Expert Profile

Eng. Yimenu Belachew Abebe

Senior Hydraulic Engineer | Urban Water Supply, NRW Reduction, DMA Design, Hydraulic Modelling, WASH & Water Safety Specialist
đź“Ť Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Verified ExpertSeniorContributorReviewed
Open to Collaboration

Professional Summary

Eng. Yimenu Belachew Abebe is an Ethiopian Senior Hydraulic Engineer and Water Resources professional specializing in urban water supply, non-revenue water reduction, District Metered Area design, hydraulic modelling, WASH, water safety planning, GIS-supported water system analysis, and construction supervision. He holds both MSc and BSc degrees in Hydraulic and Water Resource Engineering from Bahir Dar University Institute of Technology. His MSc research focused on Ribb Dam impact assessment using hydraulic models and GIS tools, giving him a strong foundation in hydraulic analysis, water resources assessment, and spatial decision support. His professional profile is powerful because it combines deep field experience with large-scale urban water system improvement. As Senior Hydraulic Engineer with Miya S.A.R.L, he played a key role in the World Bank Water Loss Reduction Project in Addis Ababa, one of Africa’s largest performance-based NRW reduction initiatives. His contribution included DMA design and supervision, hydraulic modelling, asset and customer surveys, GIS system improvements, construction supervision, risk management, compliance oversight, sustainability support, and capacity building with international experts. At Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority, he worked as Hydraulic and Water Supply Engineer, contributing to water auditing, water quality assessments, hydraulic modelling, map updating, technical documentation, construction supervision, and project management. His work directly supported Addis Ababa’s urban water supply system and helped strengthen service delivery for a large city population. His collaboration with AMREF, JICA, and Vitens Evides International shows that he has worked not only in local utility operations, but also in international water-sector partnerships. Through these programmes, he contributed to WASH challenges, NRW monitoring and analysis, water safety plans, data management, infrastructure optimization, source-to-tap water quality improvement, and integrated water resources and WASH strategies. Yimenu is also a capacity builder. He has trained engineers and technicians in water and sewerage data management and analysis, using tools such as WaterCAD, AutoCAD, Google Earth, GIS, QGIS, Epicollect5, and Microsoft applications. This makes him valuable not only as an engineer, but also as a professional who helps others grow. His profile brings strong value to AquaLinked / Water for Africa Experts because he represents a practical, field-tested, and internationally exposed African water engineer capable of helping utilities reduce water loss, improve hydraulic performance, strengthen WASH systems, protect water quality, and deliver more reliable urban water services.

Key Expertise

Hydraulic engineering water resources engineering urban water supply systems non-revenue water reduction water loss reduction District Metered Area design DMA supervision hydraulic modelling WaterCAD QGIS GIS AutoCAD Epicollect5 Google Earth water auditing asset surveys customer surveys water quality assessment water safety plans WASH systems strengthening water supply risk management urban water infrastructure optimization construction supervision technical specification review tender documentation contract documentation payment documentation project reporting funding document preparation humanitarian and emergency water activities capacity building engineer training technician training technology transfer climate-resilient water infrastructure freshwater health environmental flow requirement assessment WaPOR water productivity SDG 6.

Major Projects and Contributions

  • World Bank Water Loss Reduction Project – Miya S.A.R.L, Addis Ababa
    Served as Senior Hydraulic Engineer on the World Bank Water Loss Reduction Project with Miya S.A.R.L in Addis Ababa, playing a key role in one of Africa’s largest performance-based non-revenue water reduction initiatives. His work included DMA design and supervision, hydraulic modelling, asset and customer surveys, GIS system improvements, risk management, sustainability support, technology transfer, construction supervision, and training of engineers and field technicians.
  • District Metered Area Design and Supervision for NRW Reduction
    Designed and supervised District Metered Areas to reduce water loss and improve water supply system performance. His contribution supports pressure management, leakage identification, water balance improvement, improved monitoring, and more accountable utility operations.
  • Hydraulic Modelling and GIS System Improvement for Urban Water Supply
    Conducted hydraulic modelling, GIS system improvement, asset surveys, customer surveys, and water system analysis to support decision-making in urban water supply management. His work strengthens data-driven planning and operational efficiency.
  • Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority – Hydraulic and Water Supply Engineering
    Served as Hydraulic and Water Supply Engineer at Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority, contributing to hydraulic modelling, water auditing, water quality assessments, map updating, construction supervision, technical specification review, project documentation, tender support, contract support, payment documentation, and reporting.
  • AMREF WASH and NRW Reduction Partnership – Addis Ababa
    Collaborated with African Medical and Research Foundation on WASH and NRW reduction initiatives in Addis Ababa, supporting efforts to improve access to safe water for vulnerable groups and integrating WASH interventions with broader health and development programmes.
  • JICA NRW Reduction Project – Addis Ababa
    Contributed to JICA-supported non-revenue water monitoring and analysis capacity building at AAWSA from 2021 to 2024. His work used Epicollect5, GIS, AutoCAD, and Microsoft applications for data collection, analysis, documentation, and technical collaboration with Japanese experts.
  • Vitens Evides International Source to Tap and Back Programme
    Contributed to the VEI Source to Tap and Back programme, implementing water safety plans, improving water quality monitoring, strengthening risk management, optimizing urban water infrastructure, reducing NRW, and supporting integrated water resource management and WASH strategies serving approximately 4.5 million residents.
  • Water Safety Plans and Water Quality Risk Management
    Applied water safety planning approaches to improve water quality monitoring, identify risks, strengthen source-to-tap management, and support safer water delivery in urban water supply systems.
  • Volunteer Training for Engineers and Technicians
    Trained engineers and technicians in water and sewerage data management and analysis using tools such as WaterCAD, AutoCAD, Google Earth, GIS, QGIS, Microsoft Office applications, and related technical tools. This contribution strengthened local capacity and improved water utility service performance.
  • Construction Supervision and Quality Compliance
    Worked as Construction Supervisor with Sintayehu, Yimenu and Friends General Contractor, supervising compliance with quality and design standards, inspecting and preparing sites, interpreting drawings, assigning tasks, implementing health and safety protocols, preparing reports, estimating costs, and guiding construction crews and subcontractors.
  • ORDA Internship – Irrigation Design and Inclusive Water Development
    Participated in irrigation design and supervision during internship with the Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara, contributing to projects that considered gender, inclusion, climate, sanitation, and poverty dimensions in water resources development.
  • Ribb Dam Impact Assessment Using Hydraulic Models and GIS
    Completed MSc thesis research on Ribb Dam impact assessment using hydraulic models and GIS tools, strengthening his capacity in hydraulic analysis, dam impact assessment, spatial modelling, and water resources decision support.
  • WASH Systems Strengthening and Freshwater Health Capacity Development
    Completed advanced courses in WASH systems strengthening, finance for WASH systems, WaPOR, environmental flow requirements for SDG Indicator 6.4.2, water productivity, freshwater health, and flood infrastructure asset adaptation, strengthening his climate-resilient and systems-oriented water-sector capacity.
  • Field Leadership, Ethics and Professional Communication
    Completed training in field-level leadership, service delivery and professional ethics, communication skills, and emotional intelligence. These skills support his ability to lead teams, coordinate stakeholders, manage field operations, and maintain professional standards.
  • Future Contribution: African Urban Water Efficiency and Climate-Resilient WASH
    Aims to contribute to water security, SDG 6, non-revenue water reduction, hydraulic modelling, DMA implementation, WASH systems strengthening, climate-resilient infrastructure, capacity building, and international collaboration for safer and more reliable water services across African cities and communities.