Afework Geberhiwot Tesfaye, one of the founders of Ethio-Legal Shield, obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from Bahir Dar University, in 2008 and his Master’s Degree from Addis Ababa University in, Human Rights Laws in 2019.

After his graduation in 2009, Mr. Afework has been serving as Lecturer of Law at Wollega University, for the past ten plus years. Besides, he has served in mid-managerial positions, such as, Assistant Registrar of the School of Law and Coordinator of the Center for Moot Court and Legal Profession Development, for more than four years. Besides, he has also served as a data manager of Gida Ayana Free Legal Aid Center, which he was responsible to offering counseling to IDPs on their HPL rights, family rights (maintenance, children’s custody etc), and writing reports.

He has demonstrated the following skills and expertise in his vast legal and multi-disciplinary engagements that uplifted the lives of many:

• Peacebuilding Expertise in Conflict Regions: Spearheaded peacebuilding initiatives and managed voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Western Oromia regions, addressing communal violence impacts.
• UNHCR Protection Cluster Meetings Participation: Regularly attended and contributed to UNHCR Protection Cluster Meetings, analyzing protection risks and formulating action points.
• Report Writing and Performance Analysis: Proficient in preparing weekly and bi-monthly performance reports, action plans, and official correspondence.
• Field Monitoring and Training Delivery: Conducted on-site monitoring visits and provided Human Rights Law (HRL) training to UNHCR partners.
• Community Engagement and Reintegration: Facilitated community dialogues, reintegration, voluntary repatriation, and resettlement activities for IDPs, ensuring effective implementation of durable solutions.

Mr. Afework, was also very much interested in legal profession development activities. Thus, he has also been working with F.D.R.E Higher Education Strategy Center and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Justice and Legal Research Institute. He was part of the Ethiopian legal education reform program, which aimed at equipping law students with practical legal knowledge and enhance their advocacy and legal research skills and activities related to National Moot Court Competitions.

Mr. Afework, besides his academic career, he was very much interested in legal profession development activist. Thus, has participated in various national and international moot court competitions, as competitor, judge, and coach, including Phillip C. Jessup and African Human Rights. His vast and diverse experience makes him the most sought expert in the field of Education Law.

The various national and international trainings, which Mr. Afework took part, including, UNHCR Protection Training course, ICRC training workshop on IHL and Principles, in Nairobi; African Human Rights Laws conference organized by Pretoria Human Rights Center in Dakar, Senegal; International Law Workshop in Washington DC, USA, …etc, have a profound importance in the development of his legal research, drafting, reviewing legal cases, pleadings, and memoranda.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Ethiopian Federal Advocates Association

Languages

• English
• Amharic
• Afan Oromo
• Tigrigna