Ayenat Mersie

Ayenat Mersie

Ayenat Mersie is a Global Development Reporter for Devex. Previously, she worked as a freelance journalist for publications such as National Geographic and Foreign Policy and as an East Africa correspondent for Reuters.

Latest Articles

Devex Dish: Ending a year of disruption and hard lessons for food aid

Devex Dish: Ending a year of disruption and hard lessons for food aid

2 days ago // Devex Dish

A look back at our most-read stories and opinion pieces in 2025.

African Development Bank's concessional lending arm raises record $11B

African Development Bank's concessional lending arm raises record $11B

9 days ago // Finance

The African Development Fund secures record backing amid changing donor dynamics.

Nicholas Haan, architect of global system to detect famines, dies at 60

Nicholas Haan, architect of global system to detect famines, dies at 60

14 days ago // Obituary

He built the system that tells the world when hunger becomes famine — shaping how humanitarian response unfolds.

UN Environment Programme warns world is off course as cooperation falters

UN Environment Programme warns world is off course as cooperation falters

17 days ago // Climate change

A U.N. assessment says environmental decline is accelerating faster than expected, draining trillions from the global economy as governments drift further apart on how to respond.

Kenya lands $1B debt-for-food swap with US DFC

Kenya lands $1B debt-for-food swap with US DFC

21 days ago // Economic development

The Kenyan government and the DFC have inked a deal to swap $1 billion of debt in exchange for food security investments.

Devex Dish: In Nepal, nutrition gains begin to unravel without USAID

Devex Dish: In Nepal, nutrition gains begin to unravel without USAID

23 days ago // Devex Dish

The future of Food for Peace, and plant treaty talks fail to reach a compromise.

Special edition: What moved, what stalled, and what’s next after COP30

Special edition: What moved, what stalled, and what’s next after COP30

about 1 month ago // Devex Newswire

The final report card from Belém.

Sierra Leone challenges COP30 push for private sector to fund adaptation

Sierra Leone challenges COP30 push for private sector to fund adaptation

about 1 month ago // COP30

Sierra Leone’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change Jiwoh Abdulai says that the private sector can’t meet adaptation needs.

COP30 reporters' notebook: Day 12

COP30 reporters' notebook: Day 12

about 1 month ago // COP30

On the ground at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, Devex reporters deliver the latest updates.

Soils hold 45% more carbon than thought, study finds

Soils hold 45% more carbon than thought, study finds

about 1 month ago // Climate Change

Soils hold far more carbon than once thought, making their protection central to climate action.