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Dr. Seblewongiel Ayenalem
Associate Professor of Social Work and Social Development | Researcher
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Quick Insights
● 20 years academic and research experience
● 30+ PhD and Master's students supervised
● 10+ peer-reviewed academic publications
● 10+ national and international consultancy projects
● 10+ university courses taught
● Multiple leadership positions in higher education
● Extensive collaboration with international development organizations
Selected Career Milestones
● Associate Professor of Social Work, Bahir Dar University (2025–Present)
● Lecturer and Assistant Professor, Bahir Dar University (2005–2025)
● Dean, School of Graduate Studies (2020–2023)
● Head, Department of Social Work (2018–2020)
● Board Member, Mekdela Amba University (2019–2020)
Professional Affiliations , Membership & Additional Contributions
Dr. Seblewongiel is affiliated with several national and international professional networks, including:
● Ethiopian Women Human Rights Defenders Network
● Ethiopian Women Peace Building Network
● Ethiopian Society of Sociologists, Social Workers and Anthropologists
● Ethiopian Research Ethical Review Association
● World Association of Positive Psychotherapy
● Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Alumni Network
She also serves as:
● Associate Editor, Ethiopian Journal of Social Sciences
● Reviewer for international academic journals
● Facilitator of gender and social development training programs
Professional Overview
Areas of Expertise
● Social Work and Social Development
● Gender and Development Studies
● Women’s Political Participation
● Peace and Conflict Studies
● Social Protection Systems
● Maternal and Child Health Promotion
● Community Development
● Public Health Social Work
● Research Methods and Policy Analysis
Professional Services & Advisory
● International NGOs and development agencies
● Ethiopian government institutions
● Civil society organizations
● Academic research projects
● Peacebuilding initiatives
Her advisory work includes gender mainstreaming, social development assessment, food security policy integration, and community resilience programming.
Beneficiaries & Engagement Focus
● Women and girls
● Vulnerable communities
● University students and researchers
● Policymakers and development practitioners
● Communities affected by conflict
● Youth engaged in peacebuilding initiatives
Her engagement focuses on strengthening inclusive development, gender equity, social justice, and evidence-based policy development.
Education
Postdoctoral Fellowship
● Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow, International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Hague, Netherlands (2020–2022)
Doctoral Degree
● PhD in Social Work and Social Development, Addis Ababa University (2017)
Master’s Degrees
● MSc in Social Work, Addis Ababa University (2009)
● MSc in Microbiology, Addis Ababa University (2008)
Bachelor’s Degree
● Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Bahir Dar University (2005)
Selected Publications, Awards & Legacy Achievements
Selected Publications
● Research on women’s participation in Ethiopian elections published in African Journal of Political Science (2025)
● Co-author of research on conflict impacts on food security in Ethiopia published in BMC Nutrition (2025)
● Research on maternal health service utilization published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
● Research on determinants of marital satisfaction in Ethiopia (2020)
Research Contributions
Her research contributions focus on:
● Gender and political participation
● Social protection systems
● Peace and conflict studies
● Maternal and child health
● Community development
● Public health social work
Professional Journey & Contribution
Dr. Seblewongiel has built a career combining academic scholarship with practice in development sectors. Her contributions include teaching social work practice, supervising graduate research, designing academic curricula, and leading university-community partnership programs. She has also contributed to national development through consultancy and research assignments with the following:
● Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
● World Bank projects on fisheries and aquaculture development
● British Council peace education programs
● Tony Blair Institute gender mainstreaming initiatives
● Oxfam research on women in conflict settings
● Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition policy development initiatives
Her work in peace dialogue facilitation in Northern Ethiopia represents a major contribution to inclusive social development and conflict recovery efforts.
Platform Acknowledgment
Last Updated: April 2026