Dr. Elias Zerfu works as freelance consultant and is partially affiliated with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Prior to that, Elias worked for ICRAF as the Research in Development Coordinator for a program to improve food and water security in five countries in Africa. Elias has also worked with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Eastern and Southern Regional Office (ESARO) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Elias has designed M&E plans, mid and end line evaluation and capacity building. M&E related assignments include:  Leading a formative mid-term evaluation of the Canada’s support to Quality Protein Maize implemented by CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Research Institute) in Ethiopia; Co-facilitation of the international course on participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation organized by the Center for Development Innovation of  Wageningen University; and designing M&E systems of  the Ethiopian Agricultural Extension System with the Agriculture Learning and Impacts Network (ALINe) and keystone consultancy firms.

Elias holds a BSc degree in plant sciences and MSc and PhD degrees in Agricultural Extension.