Menale Kassie Berresaw

Address: Nairobi, Kenya

Phone: +254717734989

Professional Summary

I am a seasoned research leader with over 18 years of experience in designing and implementing development research protocols for agrifood systems, the digital economy, entrepreneurship, and gender initiatives across sub-Saharan Africa. My work has established thought leadership both on the continent and globally, as evidenced by a prolific publication record of over 100 works, more than 18,200 Google Scholar citations, and an H-index of 63. I have received numerous institutional, national, continental, and international awards and honors. I led the development of the MOre Young Entrepreneurs in Silk and Honey (MOYESH) initiative, securing a $55.5 million investment from the Mastercard Foundation to create green employment opportunities for 100,000 youth in Ethiopia. I am committed to advancing evidence-based decision-making and building research capacities that empower the next generation and shape sustainable development policies.

Key Achievements

- Led and supported the development of major development programs: Spearheaded the creation of large-scale initiatives, including the MOre Young Entrepreneurs in Silk and Honey (MOYESH) initiative, a $55.5 million grant funded by the Mastercard Foundation (MCF) to create green jobs for 100,000 youth in Ethiopia. Additionally, I significantly contributed to the development of the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) program In Ethiopia, an $80 million initiative supported by MCF, both aligning with the Young Africa Works (YAW) strategy.

- Research influence: Authored over 100 scholarly articles with more than 18,200 citations and an H-index of 63, primarily focusing on impact assessment and gender research. Recognized among the top 2% of global scientists by Stanford University, recipient of the TWAS Siwei Cheng Award in Economic Sciences, and elected fellow of both the African and Ethiopian Academies of Sciences, among numerous other honors.

- Research committee member: Serving as research committee member for the 12 Centres in Africa, Asia, and Latin America established under the Environment for Development (EfD) initiative (https://www.efdinitiative.org/), University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

- Thought leadership: Influenced the scientific community to conduct multiple adoption and impact analyses, significantly contributing to the growth of the development economics field. This work earned me the prestigious TWAS Siwei Cheng Award in Economic Sciences.

- Specialty Chief Editor: Served as Chief Editor for Insect Economics under the Frontiers in Insect Science Journal (2020 to April 2024).

- Innovative agrifood solutions: Introduced insect farming technology in Ethiopia to enhance feed and fertilizer availability and fostering local green job creation through recycling biowaste using insects.

- Expansion of research capacity: Grew the Social Sciences and Impact Assessment Unit at icipe from 3 to 11 staff members and strengthened the research culture and impact evaluation at icipe.

Professional Experience

Head, Social Sciences and Impact Assessment (SSIA) Unit

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Nairobi, Kenya

November 2015 – Present

- Program development leadership: Led the development of icipe's first $55.5 million grant—the MOre Young Entrepreneurs in Silk and Honey (MOYESH) initiative—from the Mastercard Foundation (MCF), which created 100,000 green job opportunities for youth in Ethiopia. Additionally, contributed to the development of the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) program, an $80 million initiative also funded by MCF.

- Research excellence: Authored over 60 scholarly articles on the impacts of socio-technical innovation bundles, gender, and women empowerment on food security, poverty alleviation, and resilience to shocks.

- Thought leadership: Influenced icipe's investors by enhancing the quality of impact and gender research. Advanced the adoption and impact assessment of socio-technical innovation bundles for agrifood systems and gender research, significantly influencing the scientific community in these areas. Delivered keynotes and seminars across Africa and Europe, and organized symposiums, bridging the gap between policy and science. Received numerous institutional, national, continental, and international awards and recognition.

- Innovation introduction: Introduced insect farming technology in Ethiopia, which has potential impact on feed availability, fertilizer production, and local job creation.

- Resources mobilization: Mobilize over $80 million funds in collaboration with internal and external partners.

- Partnership building: Established strong partnerships with global and regional research institutions, enhancing the quality and reach of research initiatives.

- Capacity building: Expanded the SSIA Unit from 3 to 11 staff members; supervised and mentored over 19 postgraduate students, fostering the next generation of development economist research leaders in Africa.

Impact Scientist and Senior Scientist

International Maize & Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Nairobi, Kenya

July 2010 – October 2015

- Research systems design: Led the design of research systems for projects and multiple agricultural sustainable intensification practices adoption and impact analysis for agrifood systems in SSA.

- Project agreement: Prepared partners' project agreements, authorized payment transfers, and coordinated and oversaw project implementation.

- Resource mobilization: Secured $9.9 million in funding in collaboration with partners and managed large-scale projects across Africa, Australia, Europe, and the USA, with a focus on agricultural intensification, gender, and sustainable development.

- Knowledge development: Published 37 research papers on the impacts of bundles agricultural sustainable intensification practices and technologies, resilience to shocks, gender technology and food security gaps, contributing to global discussions on food security and poverty alleviation.

Thought leadership: Advanced socio-technical innovation bundles adoption and impact assessment for agrifood systems in Africa and gender research and influencing the scientific community in these fields.

Research Officer and Research Fellow

Environment for Development Initiative (EfD), University of Gothenburg, Sweden

October 2008 – June 2010

- Project management: Managed and reviewed research project proposals and outputs of the centers, with a focus on sustainable land management, ecosystem services, forestry, climate change, and environmental sustainability across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

- Project agreement contract: Prepared project contract agreements and allocate budget for each center.

- Disseminate lessons and insights: Organized annual research workshops to share the Centers' findings with a broader audience, including the Centers' researchers.

- Research excellence: Authored 9 scholarly articles, contributing to the global discourse on sustainable development and environmental management.

Awards and Honors

- Highly Cited Researcher 2022-2024 by Clarivate

- Top 2% Global Scientist by Stanford University (2021-2024)

- TWAS Siwei Cheng Award in Economic Sciences (2022)

- Elected Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (2021)

- Elected associate Fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences (2021)

- Outstanding Professional Staff of the Year, icipe (2019)

- Specialty Chief Editor, Insect Economics, Frontiers in Insect Science Journal (2020 to April 2024)

- Appointed as Adjunct Professor at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia (Since 2023)

- Authored a paper recognized as one of the top five papers of the 2020s in the European Review of Agricultural Economics (https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbad022).

- Elected as a research committee member of the Environment for Development (EfD) initiative, covering 12 countries, based at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden (Since 2018) (https://www.efdinitiative.org/).- Outstanding publisher, socioeconomic program, CIMMYT (2013-2015)

Skills and Competencies

- Research design and implementation: Proven expertise in designing and implementing research systems and protocols for agrifood systems.

- Project development and management: Proven ability to mobilize resources, including leading the development of a $55.5 million youth employment program in Ethiopia, and manage large-scale projects, and develop sub-grant contracts.

- Policy impact assessment and dialogue: Extensive experience in evaluating the impacts of agricultural policies and interventions that generate robust evidence to inform policymaking and actively engaging in policy dialogue at national, regional, and international levels.

- Gender research and socioeconomic analysis: Deep expertise in conducting gender-related research and economic analysis, particularly focusing on the impacts of agricultural interventions on food security, nutrition, risks, environment, and poverty.

- Leadership and team management: Strong leadership in growing and managing teams, including expanding icipe's Social Sciences and Impact Assessment Unit and mentoring numerous staff and postgraduate students.

- Stakeholder engagement: Extensive experience in building and managing partnerships with research institutions, government bodies, and private sector stakeholders.

- Capacity building and training: Committed to building the capacity of young researchers and professionals in development economics, evidenced by training programs and mentoring activities.

- Thought leadership: Ability to influence the scientific community, demonstrated by receiving the TWAS Siwei Cheng Award in Economic Sciences for enhancing understanding of multiple technology adoptions and impact assessments in Africa, and translating complex research findings into actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Education

- Ph.D. in Economics (major Development Economics), Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway (2000 – August 2006)

- M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics, Alemaya University of Agriculture, Ethiopia (1994 – 1997)

- B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics, Alemaya University of Agriculture, Ethiopia (1987 – 1991)

Selected Publications (Google Scholar)

- Balew, S., Bulte, E., Abro, Z., & Kassie, M. (2024). Short-run subsidies and long-run willingness to pay: Learning and anchoring in an agricultural experiment in Ethiopia. American Journal of Agricultural Economics.

- Mulungu, K., Tekelewold, H., Abro, Z., Sevgan, S., Muriithi, B., Ecuru, J., Beesigamukama, D., & Kassie, M. (2023): Pollinator-dependent crops significantly contribute to diets and reduce household nutrient deficiencies in sub-Saharan Africa. Scientific Reports.

- Balew, S., Bulte, E., Abro, Z., & Kassie, M. (2022). Incentivizing and nudging farmers to spread information: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia. American Journal of Agricultural Economics.

- Abro, Z., Kassie, M., Chrysantus, T., Beesigamukama, D., & Diiro, G. (2020). Socioeconomic and environmental implications of replacing conventional poultry feed with insect-based feed in Kenya. Journal of Cleaner Production.

- Kassie, M., Fisher, M., Muricho, G., & Diiro, G. (2020). Women's empowerment boosts the gains in dietary diversity from agricultural technology adoption in rural Kenya. Food Policy.

- Kassie, M., Abro, Z., Wossen, T., Diiro, G., Ballo, S., & Belayhun, L. (2019). Integrated Health Interventions for Improved Livelihoods: A Case Study in Ethiopia. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062284.

- Kassie, M., Stage, J., Teklewold, H.; and Erenstein, O. (2015). Gendered food security in rural Malawi: Why is women's food security status lower? Food Security.

- Kassie, M., Teklewold, H., Marenya, P., Jaleta, M., & Erenstein, O. (2015). Production Risks and Food Security under Alternative Technology Choices in Malawi: Application of a Multinomial Endogenous Switching Regression. Journal of Agricultural Economics

- Chisanga, B., Bulte, E., Kassie, M., Mutero, C., Masaninga, F., & Sangoro, O. P. (2023): The economic impacts of house screening against malaria transmission: Experimental evidence from eastern Zambia. Social Science & Medicine.

- Bellarby, J., Stirling, C., Vetter, S.H., Kassie, M., Kanampiu, F., Sonder, K., Smith, P., Hillier, J. (2014). Identifying secure and low carbon food production practices: A case study in Kenya and Ethiopia. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment.

- Kassie, M., Shiferaw, B., & Muricho, G. (2011). Agricultural Technology, Crop Income, and Poverty Alleviation in Uganda. World Development.

- Kassie, M., Teklewold, H., Moti, J., Marenya, P. and Erenstein, O. (2015) Understanding the adoption of a portfolio of sustainable intensification practices in Eastern and Southern Africa. Land use Policy.

Referees

Dr. Segenet Kelemu

Emeritus Fellow and Former DG and CEO of icipe

Mobile: +254 733 634 366

Email: segenetk10@gmail.com

Prof. Gunnar Köhlin

Associate Professor & Director, Environment for Development Initiative

University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Mobile: +46 705 350 508

Email: gunnar.kohlin@efd.gu.se