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

Mission 300 sends energy fellows into governments across Africa

Mission 300 sends energy fellows into governments across Africa

1 day ago // Energy

Young energy professionals are being embedded inside government delivery units as part of the push to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030.

Devex Dish: What happens when the rains fail and the aid recedes?

Devex Dish: What happens when the rains fail and the aid recedes?

8 days ago // Devex Dish

In Kenya’s arid north, pastoralist counties meets a thinner donor cushion. Plus, the business case for financing women farmers, and change at the top of WFP.

A year without USAID: In Kenya, the shock reaches herders and hospitals

A year without USAID: In Kenya, the shock reaches herders and hospitals

8 days ago // Global Health

Drought, debt pressures, and shrinking U.S. aid are converging — exposing strain in Kenya’s pastoralist economies and public health system.

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain to step down, citing health concern

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain to step down, citing health concern

14 days ago // Food Systems

With backing from the United States — long its largest donor — wavering, a leadership test looms at the world’s largest humanitarian agency.

Devex Dish: The food lowdown from the AU Summit

Devex Dish: The food lowdown from the AU Summit

22 days ago // Devex Dish

At the African Union Summit and the Munich Security Conference, food systems leaders make the investment case underlining why food security equals global security. Plus, goodbye to the EAT Foundation.

Special edition: As multilateralism fractures, Africa seeks a more perfect union

Special edition: As multilateralism fractures, Africa seeks a more perfect union

22 days ago // Devex Newswire

The African Continental Free Trade Area takes center stage at the AU Summit, and the U.S. seeks to pilot a new African cross-border infrastructure corridor, promising that investments would not be exploitative.

Scoop: US looks to pilot next African trade corridor project

Scoop: US looks to pilot next African trade corridor project

23 days ago // Trade and Development

Officials are seeking input on which cross-border project to back under the new U.S.–AU infrastructure working group.

Devex Dish: When these ag researchers got lemons, they made lemonade

Devex Dish: When these ag researchers got lemons, they made lemonade

29 days ago // Devex Dish

How agricultural research is evolving after the shutdown of USAID’s Feed the Future innovation labs. Plus, Senegal becomes the first country to launch an AgriConnect compact with the World Bank.

When Feed the Future shut down, these researchers built something new

When Feed the Future shut down, these researchers built something new

29 days ago // Food Systems

Responsible Innovations emerged as former USAID-backed researchers sought to preserve years of food systems research and global partnerships.

One year after USAID’s shutdown, Ethiopian aid workers are still struggling

One year after USAID’s shutdown, Ethiopian aid workers are still struggling

about 1 month ago // Career

The fallout from the aid freeze is still rippling through Ethiopia’s humanitarian workforce, with many laid-off workers unemployed.