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About

About Ajanaw Alemie

Ajanaw Alemie is an Assistant Professor in Social Work, Department of Social Work at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia.

He received his Masters degree in Social Work [Community and Social Development] from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia in 2013;

his Diploma in Theology from Holy Trinity University, Ethiopia in 2018;

his Higher Diploma for Teaching Methodology from University of Gondar in 2014 and his BA degree in Sociology and Social Work from Jimma University, Ethiopia in 2009.

Ajanaw has joined the University of Gondar as Graduate Assistant I in 2009.

He is one of the founding members of the Department of Social Work in 2010. From 2015-17, Ajanaw has served as Head, Department of Social Work.

He has been involved in the BSW and MSW curriculum development.

Ajanaw has visited Dominican University Graduate School of Social Work as a J-1 Scholar and on a scholarship from the Soros Foundation.

He has been engaging in several research projects and produced scientific publications in peer reviewed journals.

Besides, he is serving as peer reviewer for various international journals.

He has been also participated and presented his research work in several national and international research conferences.

His research interest includes social work education, indigenous social work, social work and intercultural sensitivity, community and social development, social protection and vulnerable/ disadvantaged groups.

Ajanaw is committed to the field of social work and is interested in seeing it expand in Ethiopia to meet the needs of those living in the widespread poverty that exists there.

Grants and Awards

List of Research Grants and Awards

• Sep 2019-Sep 2023 (Co-investigator) Transition of youth with disabilities: Expereinces, Needs, current practices and the way forward in Ethiopia. Sponsor: MasterCard Foundation; Total cost: 60, 000 USD.

• Sep 2020-June 2021 (Co-investigator) Social Protection for Inclusive Development: Services, Systems and the Operating Environment in Selected Zones of Amhara National Regional State. Sponsor: University of Gondar; Total cost: 154, 000 ETB

• Civil Society Scholar Award (2019/20), funded by Open Society Foundations; Total cost: 13,100 USD.

• Civil Society Scholar Award (2017/18), Dominican University, Graduate School of Social Work, USA funded by Open Society Foundations; Total cost: 6000 USD

• Sep 2017 – Sep 2018 (Co-investigator) Perception of People toward Women Leadership and Political Participation in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Sponsor: UN Women Ethiopia; Total cost: 559, 234 ETB.

• Sep 2017 – June 2018 (Co-investigator) Disadvantaged Groups: Child Labour Abuse, Harmful Traditional Practices and Women Leadership in North Gondar Zone, N/W Ethiopia. Sponsor: University of Gondar; Total cost: 130, 000 ETB.

• Sep 2016 – June 2017 (Co-investigator) Disadvantaged Groups: Psychosocial and Economic Wellbeing, and Policy Responses in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Sponsor: University of Gondar; Total cost: 500, 000 ETB.

• Sep 2015 – June 2016 (Co-investigator) Indigenous Knowledge and Institutions: Challenges and Prospects for Sustainable Development in North and South Gondar Zones, N/W Ethiopia. Sponsor: University of Gondar; Total cost: 468, 500 ETB.

• August-Sep 2016 (Co-implementer) Urban Poverty in Ethiopia: Asset Based Community Development as a Strategy for Empowering the Urban Poor and Reducing Poverty. Sponsor: APPEAR preparatory funding; Total cost: 15, 000 Euro.

• Sep 2015 – June 2016 (Co-investigator) Disability among populations of Gondar City, N/W Ethiopia. Sponsor: University of Gondar; Total cost: 100, 000.Sep 2014 – June 2015 (Principal Investigator) Risk and protective factors of substance abuse among youth in Gondar City, N/W Ethiopia. Sponsor: UoG; Total cost: 11, 000 ETB.

• Sep 2014 – June 2015 (Co-investigator) Mapping and integrating indigenous knowledge systems in North Gondar District, N/W Ethiopia. Sponsor: UoG; Total cost: 79, 170 ETB.

• Sep 2013 – June 2015 (Co-investigator) Child maltreatment (abuse, trafficking and neglect) and protection in Metema District, N/W Ethiopia. Sponsor: University of Gondar; Total cost: 90, 000 ETB.

• Sep 2013 – June 2014 (Principal Investigator) Situational analysis of older people in Gondar City, N/W Ethiopia. Sponsor: University of Gondar; Total cost: 14, 000 ETB.

Supervision

• I have supervised a number of BSW and MSW students as both primary supervisor and co-supervisor.

Publication

Book Chapters

1. Alemie, A., & James, S. (2018). Extending old age pension coverage to workers in the informal sector economy in Ethiopia. In Glenn W. Muschert, Kristen Budd, Michelle Christian, Brian V. Klocke, Jon Shefner, and Robert Perrucci. Global Agenda for Social Justice. Policy Press, University of Bristol, UK.

2. Alemie, A. (2015). Analysis of the situation of humanitarian aid and relief in Ethiopia: implication for international social work research, education and practice. In Gaby, F and Claudia, L (Eds). Peace building-Gender-Social Work-International Human Rights Dialogue. Paulo Freire Verlag publishing company, Oldenburg, Germany.

Journal Articles [Published and in press]

1. Mulugeta, K., Mandefro, H., & Alemie, A. (2020). Vulnerability, legal protection and work conditions of domestic workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Advances in social work, 20(3). DOI https://doi.org/10.18060/23674.

2. Abebe, A., Kebede, W., & Alemie, A. (2019). The role of ego social networks for community development: the case of Tullo Community, Southern Ethiopia. IJSCD, 1(4), 332–349. https://doi.org/10.1177/2516602619889217.

3. Alemie, A., & Mandefro, H. (2018). Roles of indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms for maintaining social solidarity and strengthening communities in Alefa district, N/W of Ethiopia. Journal of Indigenous Social Development, 7 (2), pp. 1-21. https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/jisd/article/view/58481.

4. Alemie, A, & Mandefro, H. (2018). Nature, benefits, challenges and opportunities of University- community engagement: at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia: A Case Study. IJRSLCD, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.37333/001c.7022

5. Mupedziswa, R., Twikirize, J., Mthethwa, E., Alemie, A., & Oluwagbemiga, O. (In Press). Understanding the philosophy of Ubuntu and its contribution to social work education. Social Work Education - International Journal.

6. Mulatie, M., & Alemie, A. (In press). Depression, protective factors and community attitude elderly people in Amhara national regional state, Ethiopia.

7. Alemie, A., & Abebe, A. (In press). Determinants of intercultural sensitivity among undergraduate students of University of Gondar, Ethiopia.

Book Review

1. Alemie, A., & Abebe, A. (2019). A balanced approach: Key insights for communities to realize their dreams, by Robert D. Blames, Denver, Outskirts Press, 2015, 155 pp. Community development: Journal of the community development society, 50(1). Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group.

2. Alemie, A. (2020). Review of Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples, by Linda Tuhiwai Smith London and New York, Zed Books, 2012. Indigenous Policy Journal, XXXI (3).

Conference Papers

1. Alemie, A. & Mandefro, H. (2015). Promoting quality in higher education through community engagement: potential, current practices and challenges. Conference Proceeding of the institutional annual conference on quality of education from 6-7 November 2015, University of Gondar, Ethiopia.

2. Alemie, A. (2014). University-community partnership and its implications for Community development: the case of University of Gondar. Conference Proceedings of the International Conference on Quality Education from 4th-5th April 2014, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.