Semra Seifu

Ms. Seifu is an international development practitioner with more than 25 years of diverse management experience in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Over the past 18 years she has focused primarily on international development and worked in more than 20 countries across Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. She has extensive experience managing and providing technical assistance to health, education, and Information Communication and Technologies programs. She served in various capacities with Populations Services International, World Links (initiative of The World Bank Group), Creative Associates International and Plan International USA on a range of initiatives including systems strengthening, behavior change, early childhood literacy, and technology facilitated education programs. In addition, Ms. Seifu developed, implemented and managed international public-private partnership programs funded by USAID, KFW, DFID, UNFPA, The World Bank Group and private donors. Prior to entering international development Ms. Seifu spent a decade in the private sector working for consulting firms such as Accenture and Ernst & Young where she served as senior change management consultant. She performed engagements that included instructional design, change management, performance improvement training, and facilitation across multiple industries such as retail, public health, and pharmaceuticals. She has a Masters in Instructional Design and Educational Technology from Purdue University. She holds post graduate certificates in Project Management and Human Performance Improvement from the Project Management Institute and Association for Talent Development respectively. In addition to English she is fluent in French, Amharic and conversant in Arabic.