Water for Africa Experts
Dr.Minbale Aschale Dagnaw

Dr.Minbale Aschale Dagnaw

Senior Water Security, WASH, Environmental Health & Pollution Control Expert | Environmental Chemistry Researcher and Consultant
📍 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Verified Expert Open to Collaboration contributor reviewed senior

Professional Summary

Ethiopian senior researcher, consultant, environmental team leader, and water-sector expert specializing in Water Security, WASH, Environmental Chemistry, Water and Health, Environmental Engineering, pollution control, wastewater treatment, and environmental risk assessment. He holds a PhD in Water and Health/Environment from Addis Ababa University and brings more than 18 years of experience across research institutions, universities, government advisory roles, international collaborative programmes, and high-level consultancies. His career includes leadership at the Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, postdoctoral and consultancy work under the UKRI-GCRF Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub, research and leadership roles at the Technology and Innovation Institute, teaching and advisory responsibilities at Haramaya University, and doctoral research with the Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources on Addis Ababa wastewater pollution. His work connects rigorous science with public policy, supporting water quality protection, WASH systems, wastewater management, environmental health, climate resilience, circular economy solutions, and sustainable water management in Ethiopia and beyond.

Expertise

Water Security WASH Water Quality Assessment Water Pollution Assessment Wastewater Treatment Environmental Chemistry Water and Health Environmental Engineering Environmental Impact Assessment Health Risk Assessment Pollution Source Identification Heavy Metals and Potentially Toxic Elements Akaki River Catchment Upper Awash Basin Wastewater Irrigation Sanitation Climate Change Adaptation Flood Risk Air Quality Digital WASH Monitoring KoboToolbox ODK Monitoring and Evaluation Water Law and Compliance Environmental Sampling Solid and Liquid Waste Management Circular Economy Agricultural Waste Valorization Biochar Biofuels Bioproducts Avocado By-Product Valorization Water Scarcity Drought-Prone Water Supply Real-Time WASH Data Systems Public Policy Advisory Stakeholder Engagement Capacity Building Postgraduate Teaching Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology Surface Water Treatment Water Resource Management Environmental Health Scientific Publication Technical Reporting Policy Briefs National Technical Committee Leadership

Specialties

water security WASH environmental chemistry water and health environmental engineering water quality pollution assessment wastewater treatment environmental impact assessment health risk assessment Akaki River catchment Upper Awash Basin wastewater irrigation sanitation climate adaptation flood risk air quality digital WASH monitoring KoboToolbox ODK environmental sampling water law solid and liquid waste management circular economy biochar biofuels bioproducts agricultural waste valorization water scarcity drought-prone water supply public policy advisory stakeholder engagement capacity building postgraduate teaching scientific publication

Projects & Contributions

  • Senior Researcher and Environment Team Leader – Bio and Emerging Technology Institute
    Leads and supports strategic research and consultancy work on water security, WASH, pollution control, wastewater management, environmental impacts, climate adaptation, and sustainable water management policy in Ethiopia.
  • UKRI-GCRF Water Security and Sustainable Development Hub
    Served as postdoctoral researcher and consultant in the international GCRF Water Security Hub collaboration coordinated by Newcastle University, with partners across the UK, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, and Malaysia, contributing to water pollution assessment, sanitation, wastewater treatment technology evaluation, health risk analysis, stakeholder engagement, policy briefs, and technical reporting.
  • WASH and Climate Risk Assessment in the Akaki River Catchment
    Served as WASH Coordinator for community-based assessments of WASH practices, climate change perception, air quality, and flood risks in the Akaki River Catchment and Upper Awash Basin, using digital data collection tools such as KoboToolbox and ODK.
  • Water Pollution and Wastewater Irrigation Research in Addis Ababa
    Conducted doctoral and applied research on water pollution, source identification, pollution mapping, wastewater treatment options, wastewater irrigation impacts, and health risks associated with contaminated vegetables and fruits in Addis Ababa.
  • Technology Research and Development Leadership
    Served at the Technology and Innovation Institute as researcher and director-level leader, coordinating research directorate activities, monitoring and evaluating projects, managing staff, organizing technical events, and preparing quarterly and annual reports.
  • Academic Teaching and Postgraduate Advisory Work
    Taught and advised students at Haramaya University and as invited guest lecturer at Amoud University, Gondar University, and Wollo University, covering Environmental Impact Assessment, WASH, water chemistry, environmental engineering, environmental chemistry and microbiology, and laboratory analysis.
  • High-Level WASH Consultancy for FCDO / DT Global / Frontier Tech Hub
    Conducted landscape and market analysis of Ethiopia’s WASH sector, including drought-prone water supply challenges, groundwater-source identification practices, real-time WASH data monitoring gaps, WASH infrastructure management systems, ecosystem actors, and recommendations for innovative solutions.
  • Avocado By-Product Valorization and Circular Economy Consultancy
    Supported TechnoServe Ethiopia in coordinating and assessing avocado by-product valorization opportunities and identifying practical intervention areas in industrial parks in Sidama Region, Ethiopia.
  • National Emerging Technology and Environmental Guideline Leadership
    Chaired the National Emerging Technology Roadmap Preparation Committee of Ethiopia, served as vice-chairman of a national satellite site selection committee, and contributed to technical national committees preparing guidelines for agrochemicals, industrial hazardous chemicals, and electronic wastes.
  • Hydrology and Sanitation Consultancy for HoAREC&N
    Developed hydrology and sanitation reporting for land and development work, reviewing water resource, water use, sanitation, hygiene policy, water pollution, household sanitation, livestock keeping, water-borne disease sources, climate change, flooding, and water security issues.
  • Scientific Publications on Water Quality, Pollution and Environmental Health
    Authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications on wastewater characteristics, Akaki catchment pollution, integrated water quality assessment, pesticide exposure, brewery wastewater suitability for irrigation, toxic elements in surface water, low-cost adsorbents for wastewater treatment, and health risks from vegetables irrigated with polluted water.
  • International Research Training and Conference Contributions
    Participated in international research and training activities including an Irish Environmental Protection Agency research internship at University College Dublin, UNESCO-IHE surface water treatment fellowship in the Netherlands, and presentations at international conferences on toxic elements, Akaki River contamination, wastewater systems, and sustainable water resources for Africa.