Sara Solomon Teklewold

Sara has a Bachelor of Education degree (BED) in History from Dilla University, a higher diploma in education, and a postgraduate degree in Gender Studies from Addis Ababa University, respectively. She has also attended a Professional Development program for Gender Trainers at KIT (Royal Tropical Institute) in Amsterdam. She has nearly 14 years of experience in the fields of education, gender, and development. Her expertise includes gender mainstreaming in development and humanitarian projects; women's economic empowerment; gender-based violence and PSEA; and disability inclusion. She has a good deal of experience working in areas related to inclusive financial access for women. She has attended SMDPs (Sustainable Microfinance and Development Programs) in Rwanda and South Africa. Sara managed field agents who were responsible for the establishment of VSLAs (Village Saving and Lending Associations) in pastoral areas of the Afar region, Ethiopia while she was working for Care Ethiopia.

She attended feminist leadership courses and has got the chance to apply her knowledge and skill in the projects she implemented and managed. Sara has closely worked with federal and regional cooperative agencies in Ethiopia. She served as a gender specialist in the cooperative development program where she helped cooperatives develop gender strategy that was successful in helping the cooperatives increase female membership and promoted women leadership. Sara is passionate about promoting women's leadership at different levels in that regard and she also got the chance to oversee a regional WPP (Women political participation project) which is implemented in Africa by IDEA and consortium partners.

For the last fourteen years Sara has worked for different international NGOs, UN and development cooperative agency. The organizations she has served include Care Ethiopia, ACDI/VOCA, FHI 360, Concern Worldwide, WFP and SIDA.

Sara aspires to pursue PHD program after she completes the global studies program and would like to focus on becoming a feminist researcher and consultant. Sara’s goal is to become a social entrepreneur in the coming years of her career.