Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Languages
Websites
Timeline
Generic

Sileshi Damte Zeleke

Addis Ababa

Summary

Experienced international development professional with 25+ years of expertise — including 17+ years at USAID — in development program management, strategic planning, budgeting, project design, implementation, and performance monitoring across food security, economic growth, health, education, democracy and governance, and humanitarian assistance. Proven success in managing complex portfolios with average annual budgets of $800 million, ensuring full regulatory compliance and alignment with U.S. government priorities. Skilled in leading multidisciplinary teams, streamlining budget processes, and cultivating strong partnerships with governments, donors, and civil society. Extensive leadership experience includes serving as Acting Program Office Director and Deputy Program Office Director at USAID/Ethiopia and Acting Country Representative for USAID/Djibouti, as well as temporary duty assignments in Washington, DC; Iraq; South Sudan; Djibouti; Zimbabwe; and Guinea Conakry. Recognized for strategic vision, cross-cultural leadership, and exceptional interpersonal and communication skills across multiple USAID Missions.

Overview

31
31
years of professional experience

Work History

Program Budget Team Lead

USAID/Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
03.2013 - 08.2025
  • Oversee the planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting of the Mission projects in health, food security, and humanitarian assistance in line with the U.S. foreign aid policy.
  • Advise Mission leadership, technical offices, and senior Ethiopian officials on policy guidance and program priorities.
  • Guide the Mission in implementing the Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and update, as needed.
  • Lead the full program budget cycle—formulation, justification, execution, tracking, and reporting—for all fund accounts (Global Health, Development Assistance, Economic Support, and International Disaster Assistance) for an average annual budget of $800 million in line with CDCS priorities and U.S. government requirements.
  • Provide guidance on complex budgetary and programmatic issues, including priority program areas such as countering PRC influence in Ethiopia.
  • Conduct high-level programmatic, budgetary, and financial analyses—including forecasting—to ensure foreign assistance projects are funded, managed, and accurately accounted for.
  • Direct the Operating Year Budget process, ensuring timely fund allocation and availability to support project implementation, program development, and oversight, while offering strategic guidance to technical teams.
  • Prepare key annual budget documents, including the Mission Resource Request (MRR), Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ), and Operational Plan (OP).
  • Ensure budget compliance with statutory requirements, including preparing congressional notifications and risk-based assessments.
  • Manage the bilateral Development Objectives Agreement (DOAG) with the Government of Ethiopia, working through the Ministry of Finance. This role requires building strong relationships and applying effective negotiation skills with host country counterparts. The DOAG serves diplomatic, legal, financial, and strategic functions related to the U.S. foreign assistance.
  • Supervise the obligation of foreign assistance funds under all instruments (Bilateral, Assistance and Acquisition, Public International Organizations, Interagency, and Government to Government).
  • Coordinate closely with the Africa Bureau (Washington, D.C.) on budget planning, execution and reporting on the use of tax payer monies.
  • Utilizing MS Office, Google Workspace, databases, and AI tools for data analysis, communication, document development, and professional presentations.
  • Use U.S. Government financial and budget systems including FACTS Info NextGen, Phoenix, GLAAS, and the Field Support Database for award management and oversight.
  • Serve as Acting Program Office Director and Deputy when needed, a member of the Mission Management Team and as Acting Country Representative for USAID/Djibouti.
  • Supervise two Program Budget Specialists and contribute to the leadership team of the Program Office.

Performance Management Specialist

USAID/Iraq
Baghdad
01.2012 - 02.2013
  • Oversee design, budgeting, implementation and performance reporting of the DG programs in rule of law, good governance, civil society and human rights.
  • Lead monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities for the entire DG portfolio including for the Community Action Plan (CAP). The CAP was the flagship project in which the USG invested billions of dollars to rehabilitate and restore Iraq’s social and economic infrastructure and livelihoods.
  • Gather success stories and share them with key stakeholders to promote learning and knowledge exchange.
  • Serve as a member of the Mission’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning working group, providing oversight on health, economic growth, and DG projects.
  • Prepare annual Operational Plan and Annual Performance Plan and Report for Iraq assistance funds.
  • Train and mentor nine locally employed Iraqi staff in project management, data collection and analysis.
  • Contribute to Mission-wide strategic planning, and conduct pipeline and portfolio reviews.
  • Manage community development grants and monitor the implementations of assistance projects.
  • Strengthen local organizations and community outreach efforts while facilitating cooperation among donors, government bodies, and non-governmental organizations.

Senior Program Management Specialist

USAID/Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
06.2011 - 01.2012
  • Manage design, budgeting, implementation and performance reporting of ALT’s food security and livelihoods projects.
  • Provide strategic leadership and oversight for food security, productive safety net programs, and humanitarian assistance operations involving cash, food, and nutrition transfers to vulnerable households.
  • Develop monitoring and evaluation plans and draft key strategic documents.
  • Conduct performance monitoring of life-saving interventions including food, water, shelter, healthcare, sanitation and hygiene, and essential nutrition services.
  • Prepare annual Operational Plan, and Annual Performance Plan and Report of the ALT portfolio.
  • Manage grants and oversee the implementations of assistance projects.
  • Conduct quarterly financial and programmatic reviews of the ALT portfolio.
  • Supervise two Program Management Specialists.

Senior Program Development Specialist | Budget

USAID/Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
05.2008 - 06.2011
  • Oversee the full lifecycle of USAID/Ethiopia’s program budget across all technical sectors, including health, food security, education, democracy and governance, and humanitarian assistance.
  • Provide expert guidance on budget formulation, execution, tracking and reporting for all technical Offices.
  • Lead the preparation of key budget documents, including MRR, CBJ and OP.
  • Ensure the completion of pre-obligation policy and statutory requirements.
  • Manage the bilateral Development Objectives Agreement (DOAG) with the Government of Ethiopia in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.
  • Act as Program Office backstop for ALT and provide oversight on food security, productive safety net and humanitarian assistance programs.
  • Fulfill duties as Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) for the Development Grants Program.
  • Supervise one Budget Specialist and support technical offices with program budget management.

Program Manager

ACDI/VOCA-Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
06.2005 - 05.2008
  • Manage budgets and implementation of economic growth, business development, and income-generation projects in compliance with USAID awards and organizational policies.
  • Supervise USAID-funded livestock marketing projects for over two years, ensuring effective delivery and measurable impact.
  • Improve access to local, regional, and international markets while supporting agro-processing and cooperatives in key sectors such as coffee, sesame, and livestock, and promoting on-farm activities like beekeeping, poultry, and microenterprises.
  • Conduct market assessments for livestock and various agricultural products, and share the market information with key stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the development of well-resourced projects to strengthen agricultural cooperatives, community-based organizations, and rural livelihoods.
  • Lead monitoring and evaluation of agricultural marketing and business development initiatives.
  • Prepare quarterly financial and performance reports for all projects.
  • Supervise a team of seven project staff.

Program Planning Coordinator

Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR)
Addis Ababa
11.2001 - 05.2005
  • Lead design, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation of CPAR projects in health, food security, agriculture and natural resource management.
  • Develop well-funded community-driven project proposals for water supply and sanitation, nutrition, public health, and food security.
  • Oversee community-based natural resource management initiatives including soil and water conservation, afforestation and improved farming practices.
  • Direct programs that protect soil and water resources to boost agricultural productivity and reduce land degradation in food-insecure areas.
  • Prepare project budgets and periodic financial and performance reports.
  • Represent the organization in engagements with government agencies and civil society.
  • Supervise a team of four technical staff members.

Senior Economist & Deputy Head

SIDA-Amhara Rural Development Program Coordination Unit, Bureau of Planning and Economic Development
Bahir Dar
09.1999 - 10.2001
  • Manage budget, implementation, and reporting of rural development programs focused on food security, social and economic development and organizational capacity building.
  • Oversee donor-funded projects in agriculture, health, water and sanitation, market systems, and rural infrastructure.
  • Facilitate regional and zonal program coordination meetings to ensure effective program delivery.
  • Develop budget guidelines, and review and verify budget requests.
  • Supervise consultancy contracts supporting rural development initiatives.
  • Monitor program implementation across the Region.
  • Supervised one Project Finance Officer.

Agricultural Extension Communication Expert

Department of Agriculture
Sekota
02.1995 - 08.1997
  • Develop annual operational plans for agricultural extension services, encompassing farmer education, distribution and utilization of agricultural inputs, promotion of improved farm management practices, and implementation of soil and water conservation measures.
  • Manage food security initiatives within the zone, including horticulture, feed production, poultry, apiculture, savings and credit programs, and other on-farm income-generating activities.
  • Direct crop production support initiatives, which included the distribution of improved seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural tools to farmers.
  • Manage livestock development programs, enhancing animal health services, fodder production, and livestock market access.
  • Lead initiatives to expand irrigation through the promotion of small-scale irrigation techniques, reducing reliance on rainfall.
  • Implement a system of periodic monitoring of the food security situation in the zone and initiate timely responses as needed.
  • Organize multiple agricultural extension coordination meetings which is instrumental in introducing drought-tolerant crops and conservation agriculture techniques.
  • Train and supervise 15 Woreda Experts, Supervisors, and Development Agents in agricultural extension communication techniques.
  • Conduct quarterly financial and programmatic performance reports for agricultural extension activities in the zone.

Education

Master’s Degree - Agricultural Economics

Punjab Agricultural University
India
07-1999

Bachelor’s Degree - Agricultural Economics

Former Alemaya University of Agriculture
Ethiopia
07-1994

Skills

  • Program management
  • Strategic planning
  • Budgeting
  • Project design and implementation
  • Performance monitoring and reporting
  • Program oversight
  • Budget administration
  • Grant management
  • Leadership
  • Team management
  • Development diplomacy
  • Negotiation
  • US Foreign assistance programming
  • Compliance and risk mitigation
  • MS Word
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Google Workspace
  • Data analysis
  • Communication
  • Document preparation and presentations
  • US Government financial systems

References

  • Alei ElDorry, eldorryalei@gmail.com, +1-202-455-6007
  • Joshua Karnes, KarnesJtkarnes@gmail.com, +1-571-276-0254
  • Hanna Grabe, Hannajung@gmail.com, +1-425-224-5066

Languages

  • English, Fluent
  • Amharic, Native

Websites

Timeline

Program Budget Team Lead

USAID/Ethiopia
03.2013 - 08.2025

Performance Management Specialist

USAID/Iraq
01.2012 - 02.2013

Senior Program Management Specialist

USAID/Ethiopia
06.2011 - 01.2012

Senior Program Development Specialist | Budget

USAID/Ethiopia
05.2008 - 06.2011

Program Manager

ACDI/VOCA-Ethiopia
06.2005 - 05.2008

Program Planning Coordinator

Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR)
11.2001 - 05.2005

Senior Economist & Deputy Head

SIDA-Amhara Rural Development Program Coordination Unit, Bureau of Planning and Economic Development
09.1999 - 10.2001

Agricultural Extension Communication Expert

Department of Agriculture
02.1995 - 08.1997

Master’s Degree - Agricultural Economics

Punjab Agricultural University

Bachelor’s Degree - Agricultural Economics

Former Alemaya University of Agriculture

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Sileshi Damte Zeleke