February 3, 2025 – Bethlehem Girma Mamo is a dedicated professional with a passion for program management and development. With specialization in financial inclusion and climate change, Bethlehem has honed her skills in providing technical guidance, conducting research, and managing stakeholder relationships. Her impressive track record includes leading initiatives such as Ethiopia’s Land Investment for Transformation Program and UNICEF’s Learning4Climate Action Platform.
Bethlehem decided to apply for the ECDAN Knowledge Fellows Program in 2022 to bridge her interests in education and financial inclusion.
Bethlehem’s Knowledge Fellow project focused on identifying different tools available to assess the costs of early childhood development programs, which are essential for budgeting and advocacy. Her work resulted in the creation of a costing tools repository on ECDAN’s website and a comprehensive Landscape Analysis of ECD Costing Tools and Guidance Resources. By collaborating with her mentor, Dr. Emily Gustafsson-Wright from the Brookings Institution, Bethlehem expanded her professional network and increased her visibility in the field. Publishing her project report and presenting at the Comparative and International Education Society Annual Conference were moments in her career growth. These opportunities, stemming from her fellowship experience, have enhanced her advocacy and public speaking skills.
I learned from my internship with UNICEF the critical need for sustainable investment in education, particularly during early childhood, said Bethlehem. The opportunity to work with leading experts at ECDAN and contribute to impactful projects aligned perfectly with my career aspirations.
Building on her fellowship experiences, Bethlehem recently completed her role as a research assistant at the University of Galway, where she worked on the intersection of migration, climate change, and social protection. She is now the Program Lead/Coordinator for the Women’s Financial and Economic Empowerment for the Gender Transformative Rural Development program at the International Development Foundation. In addition, she is pursuing a part-time PhD at the University of Galway, under Dr. Una Murray, further deepening her commitment to research and driving meaningful change.
Bethlehem also oversees the implementation of activities in all three countries, focusing on strengthening Rural Savings and Credit Cooperatives (RuSACCOs) and improving women’s access to rural financial services. She is committed to identifying challenges, guiding policy improvements, and supporting the integration of financial services into agricultural value chains, particularly in the dairy sector.
When she thinks back on what she learned from her fellowship experience and how it has helped her, Bethlehem noted that she built life skills in time management and balancing multiple responsibilities to overcome challenges and accomplish her goals. She is grateful for the supportive environment at ECDAN and the guidance of her mentor.
Looking ahead, Bethlehem intends to continue to enhance the impact and reach of her work. The Knowledge Fellows journey has been a steppingstone toward a promising future for her.
Stay tuned to see Bethlehem’s next steps and her ongoing efforts to advocate for positive social change.
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This is the fifth entry in the “From Learning to Leading” blog series profiling former Knowledge Fellows to discover where their journey has taken them.