Freelance Horn of Africa advisor/consultant. Produced over 100 country reports (on Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, The Sudan) for various organisations and legal firms.
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Horn/East Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan); UK/Europe Languages: Fluent - English & Amharic, Basic – Tigrinya, Little – Arabic |
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Professional Services include: • Countries Situations: Consultancy/Analytical Research/Reports Compilation (socio-culture, political-economy, conflict resolution, training provisions) • Asylum & Immigration/Migration Matters • Educational Development (primary to tertiary, teacher education, emergency/refugee education) • Families & Minority Ethnic Groups (representation and advocacy, integration promotion, capacity building) • Language Services: Amharic - English (documents authentication, translation, interpretation) Past & Present Clients Include: • Universities (Leeds & Oxford - UK, Hawsaa & Addis Ababa – Ethiopia, Former Asmara – Eritrea, Hargeisa & Borama, Somaliland) • Organizations (DFID - UK, The British Council – UK & Ethiopia, UNICEF – OLS, Kenya & Sudan, AET - Somalia & Somaliland, The Windle International - UK, Kenya, Somalia & Sudan) • Solicitors/Legal firms worldwide (UK, Europe, North Atlantic, Africa) • Law Enforcement Bodies (Home Office/Border Control, Courts, Police Forces) |
Qualification / Education (PhD, MEd):
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Institution |
Degree(s) or Diploma(s) obtained: |
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Leeds University, UK |
PhD (Development Education) |
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Leeds University, UK |
MEd (Masters in Science Education) |
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Leeds University, UK |
Post-graduate / Advanced Diploma (Development Education) |
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Kotebe Teacher Education University, Ethiopia Education |
Diploma |
Training:
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Institution |
Degree(s) or Diploma(s) obtained: |
| NaCTSO [National Counter Terrorism Office], UK (2020) |
Certificate of Completion NaCTSO/ACT E-Learning |
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Leeds University, UK (1998 - 2007) |
Successful completion of higher education accredited Professional Development Courses in: Project Development and Management, Research Development, Personnel Management, Communication, Writing for Publications. |
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Institute of Linguistic (IoL / IND) & Refugee Migrant Justice, UK (2003-2005) |
Certificates of Accreditation Specialist Amharic Language Training in Interpreting, Translating, Assessment & Document Authentication |
Membership of professional bodies:
• Member: AUT (Association of University Teachers) & LUCAS (Leeds University Centre for African Studies), UK
• Associate Member: The UK Academy of Experts
• Examiner & Member: IoL (Institute of Linguist) UK
• Member: The Windle International & AET (UK / Kenya / Somalia / Sudan / Ethiopia)
• Member: Development Forum (MEDREK), Ethiopia
Summary of Professional Work Experience
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Date from - Date to |
Location |
Company |
Position |
Description |
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June 2007 - Present |
World |
Various Development Organizations, Educational & Language Institutions, Solicitors, Law Enforcement Bodies |
Freelance Horn of Africa Countries Advisor/ Consultant |
- Research & Consultancy Work covering various areas (e.g. asylum & |
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July 2003 -June 2007 |
Leeds, UK |
LEEC (Leeds Ethiopian-Eritrean Communities) & RCOs (Refugee Community Organizations) |
Founder and Development Projects Advisor / Manager |
- Representation & Capacity building work of LEEC & RCOs of East/ |
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Sept. 1998 –July 2007 |
UK (Leeds) |
The University of Leeds |
International Link Project Manager & Research and Development Fellow. |
• Managing collaborative project work between institutions, donors and |
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July 1988 – Aug. 1992 |
Khartoum (Sudan) |
The Nile Society for Refugee, |
Assistant Director |
- Establishment of income generating and education centers for displaced |
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Voluntary / Charity Work 2014 - 2019: Board of Directors of Trustees, The Windle International Trust, Oxford (UK) 2016 - 2019: School Governor, Abbey Grange Academy, Ireland Wood Primary School, Leeds - UK 2010 - 2013: Local OXFAM Group Activist and Events Contributor, Leeds (UK) |
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Additional Information about Country Visits / First-Hand Experience Ethiopia - 1980 – 2021: Recent Country Field Research Visits to Oromia, SNNPR, Amhara and Central Regions (1998 -1999, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2014, July-September 2015, July -August 2017, September-October 2019). Eritrea - 1980 & 1982 (when Eritrea was still part of Ethiopia), visited Asmara (now the capital city of Eritrea) and Assab (the sea port situated in Southern Read Sea). 1988 (during the Eritrea independence struggle and when I was involved Abesha refugee community support network in the Sudan), paid a visit to western low land of Eritrea (e.g. Afabet & Keren surroundings) then controlled by the EPLF (Eritrean People Liberation Front) . 1996, 2010 (after independence) re-visited Asmara and Massawa (the other sea port situated in the Northern Read Sea). 2000 -2003 (as program leader of North-South Higher Education Institutions Link program at Leeds University) I had an opportunity to work with ex-combatant Eritrean educators and local leaders and undertook experience sharing country exchange visits. Due to the unfortunate country situation, most of the patriotic and enthusiastic Eritreans colleagues I used to work with were forced to fled from their country in recent years, some of whom ending up in the UK and elsewhere as refugees. Since 2000, I maintain close networks with and represent Habesha (i.e. Eritrean & Ethiopian) and other East African (e.g. Somalia, Sudan) communities in various capacities (e.g. consultancy, capacity building, language retention and promotion, family relation and socio-cultural integration) as well with African scholars. Kenya - 1992 - 1995 & 2001 -2014: Frequent field research work in Nairobi and refugee camps across the country, Somalia (Somaliland, Puntland, Southern Somalia) - 1992 - 1995 & 2001 -2001, 2017, 2019: Frequent field research work in North-West and Southern Somalia Sudan (North & New / South Sudan) - 1985-1991, 1993 - 1995, 2003, 2017, 2019: Frequent field research work in Central Region (Khartoum, Medene), Eastern & Southern regions (e.g. Kassla, Gedarif, Demazin, Kurmuk, Gizen, Juba, Yambio, Rumbeck) Languages Proficiency and Exposures Includes: - Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromiffa, Somali, Kiswahili and Arabic |
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Working Papers
Bekalo, S.A 2000 - 2021 Over 300 Country Reports on Horn (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, The Sudan) Compiled for Various Organizations and Legal Firms.
Bekalo, S.A. 2000 - 2016 Over 300 Country Reports on Horn (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, The Sudan) Compiled for Various Organizations and Legal Firms.
New / Recent Publications
Bekalo S A, 13 May 2021. Refugees smuggling and trafficking: the case of East and Horn of Africa. Leeds University, LUCAS Bulleting No. 82, Running Issue 2021.
Bekalo S A, 21 February 2021. Ethiopia must learn quick lessons from the Tigray to avoid further regional crisis. London University LSE Centre for Africa Studies Publication.
Bekalo S A, 2 February 2021. A Post-TPLF Tigray and the Tigrayan Diaspora. Ethiopia Insight Publication).
Bekalo S A [Part II (of II) ,19 April 2015]. Ethiopia: After EPRDF, Who is ready to take over power? Ethiopia Nazret. Com Publication.
Bekalo S A [Part I (of II) 24 March 2015]. Ethiopia: After EPRDF, Who is ready to take over power? Ethiopia Nazret. Com Publication.
Bekalo S A (19 February 2015). A Prospective Reflection: Is Arab-Style 'Revolution' No Longer Looming in the Nile Basin African Countries? Ethiopian Review. Ethio Media Publication.
Bekalo S A (Issue No. 48, December 2014). African Refugees and the Responses of Churches to Displacement in the UK. Forced Migration Review [FMR], Oxford University Press.
Bekalo S A (Issue No. 41, December 2012). East African Refugees Adapting to Life in the UK. Forced Migration Review, Oxford University Press, December 2012).
Other Sample Publications
Bekalo, S.A. (2007). Exploring the Socio-Cultural and Economic Transformation of the Habesha Communities in Diaspora: traditional vs. new cultural heritage. Part I & II. LEC – UK, October 2007.
Bekalo, S.A. (2004). Book Review. Africa in the New Millennium: challenges and prospects. African studies Bulletin. No. 66 (2004). Leeds University Centre for African studies (LUCAS) Publications.
Bekalo, S.A. (2003) Society and Culture: Field Research Visit to Somalia and Sudan. The International Education News Letter, Leeds University.
Bekalo, S.A. (2003). The Development of Basic Education in Post-conflict Somalia. International Journal of Educational Development, Vol. 23 (2003).
Bekalo, S.A. and C Bangay (2002). Towards Effective Environmental Education in developing countries: problems and prospects in responding to the environment-poverty challenge. International Journal of Educational Development, Vol. 12 (2002).
Bekalo, S.A. (1999). Secondary pre-service teacher education in Ethiopia: its impact on teachers' competence and confidence to teach practical work in science (1999). International Journal of Science Education, Vol. 21, No. 12 (1999).
Bekalo, S.A. (2000). Practical activity in Ethiopian secondary physical sciences: implications for policy and practice of the match between the intended and implemented curriculum (2000). Research Papers in Education, Vol. 75, No. 2 (2000).