Dereje LegesseTechnical Assistance Advisor (Ethiopia)

Dereje Legesse is a Technical Assistance Advisor with the ETAF team at Opportunity International EduFinance, based in Ethiopia.

Prior to joining the EduFinance team, Dereje worked at ICCO (Part of Cordaid) as Terrafina Microfinance Program Manager. Dereje also managed and led different access to finance and capacity-building projects and worked in various senior positions, including International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) as an Agribusiness Expert, Plan International Ethiopia as a Microfinance and Business Development Advisor, Harar Microfinance Institution as Founder and first CEO and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in different positions.

Dereje has a Master's degree in Microfinance from the State University of Bergamo, a BA in Economics from Addis Ababa University, and has attended a number of Financial Inclusion short courses. He is a Certified Trainer of the UNCDF Microfinance ToT, a Certified MFI Technical Service Provider from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management/AEMFI, and has a Certificate in Financing Development from ITC-ILO.