Firew Kefyalew, Country Director
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Firew Kefyalew joined IIRR in 2007 as IIRR’s Country Director for Ethiopia. With a background in educational psychology and organizational development, Firew has over twenty-four years of program experience throughout East Africa, including Rwanda, Kenya, Southern Sudan and Ethiopia. Embracing an approach of building on existing community strengths, Firew has been able to help shift the views of communities from a dependency and relief mindset to that of development and partnership. Previous professional experience includes Child Protection Officer for UNICEF – South Sudan; Program Development Officer for Save the Children – Sweden; Country Director for Ethiopia and Rwanda field offices of University College Cork – Ireland; and Guidance and Counseling Officer for the Ethiopian Ministry of Education. Firew has also taught courses at the National University of Rwanda. Currently, he serves the Ethiopian Psychologists’ Association as President, and International Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care. Firew is also an International Fellow (2009) of FORD Motor Company’s Program with the 92nd Street Y in New York City focused on Leadership in a Changing World.
