Dr Zerihun Yimer Geleta
Senior Research Fellow
Project Activities
Somalia
Other Activities and Research Interests
Comparative constitutional law, transitional justice, environmental law, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, comparative federalism, and intergovernmental relations
Areas of Expertise
Constitutional Law, Public International law, Human Rights, and Legislative and Constitutional Drafting
Since 3/2023 Senior Research Fellow, Max Plank Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law
10/2022 – 2/2023 Consultant, Max Plank Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
11/2015- 9/2022 Assistant Professor of Law, School of Law and Federalism, Ethiopian Civil Service University
11/2015- 2/2017 Deputy Director, School of Law and Federalism, Ethiopian Civil Service University
9/2010 – 10/2015 Lecturer, Institute of Federalism and Legal studies, Ethiopian Civil Service University
9/2007 – 8/2010 Public Prosecutor, Oromia, Ethiopia
3/2017 – 11/2020, Doctor of Juris in International Law, University of Graz, Austria
3/2008 – 3/2010 MA in Federalism and Local Government Studies, Ethiopian Civil Service University, Ethiopia
9/2003 – 8/2007 Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Distinction, Ethiopian Civil Service University, Ethiopia
10/2002 – 10/2004 Diploma in English Language Teaching, Jimma Teachers’ College, Ethiopia
A Book Chapter “Assessing the Right to Property, Eviction, and Compensation in Ethiopia vis-à-vis International Human Rights Law,” in Benedek Wolfgang (ed., et al.) Implementation of International Human Rights Commitments and the Impact on Ongoing Legal Reforms in Ethiopia, Brill Nijhoff, Leiden/Boston, 2020
A conference proceeding paper on “Jurisdictional Quandary between the House of the Federation and Courts in Ethiopia,” the World Conference on Social Sciences, held from the 18th to 20th of October 2019 in Budapest
A book chapter, “Environmental Rights and its Implications on Development in Ethiopia: A Strenuous Relationship,” in EVA Brems (ed., et al.), Human Rights and Development, Brill Nijhoff, Leiden/Boston, 2015
A conference proceeding chapter “Justice Sector Reform and Access to Justice: Case Study of Addis Ababa City Administration,” in Teshome Tafesse (ed.), Public Sector Transformation and Development, Vol. 1, Number 1, pp. 70-85, Ethiopian Civil Service University: Addis Ababa, 2016
A book chapter, “Cites Governance and its Implications for Human Rights Protection in the Oromia National Regional State of Ethiopia,” in Benedek Wolfgang (ed., et al.), Ethiopia and Wider African Perspectives on Human Rights and Good Governance, Wien/Graz: Verlag Recht, 2014
A book, “The Status of Local Governments in Ethiopia: A Comparative Study,” by LAP Lambert Publisher, 2011
An article, “Institutional Organization and Fiscal Autonomy of Local Governments in the Regional State of Oromia,” Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Journal of Public Management and Development, 2011
An article, “Gender Determinants of Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS: Case Study from Gunchure Town” 2011
Assistant researcher of the book edited by Gebre Yntiso (ed., et al.), “Customary Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Ethiopia,” Addis Ababa, 2011
Assistant Annotator of the “Annotated Bibliography of Studies on Customary Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Ethiopia,” Addis Ababa, 2011
‘Assessing the Implementation of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with Particular Reference to the Right to Property, Eviction and Compensation in Ethiopia’, a paper presented at The Hague International Conference held from 21 to 22 November 2019, The Hague: the Netherlands
‘Jurisdictional Quandary between the House of the Federation and Courts in Ethiopia’, a paper presented at the World Conference on Social Sciences held from 18 October to 20 October 2019, Budapest: Hungary
‘The Implementation of Human Rights Norms in Ethiopia’, a paper presented at the International Human Rights Conference held from 19 to 20 May 2018, Venice: Italy
‘Human Rights and Development in Ethiopia’, a paper presented at the International Human Rights Conference held from 21 to 23 June 2017, Venice: Italy
‘The Status, Functions, and Powers of Local Governments in Ethiopia: The Case of the State of Oromia’, a paper presented at the 5th International Conference on Federalism, 2010, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Fully funded scholarship by the Austrian Development Cooperation under the project, Austrian Partnership Program in Higher Education and Research for Development to undertake doctoral studies in International Law at the University of Graz, Austria (2017-2020)
A certificate of presentation and participation at the World Conference on Social Sciences in Budapest, Hungary in 2019
A certificate of attendance on “Transforming Social Skills into Intercultural Competence” in Vienna, Austria 2017
An academic promotion from a lecturer title to an assistant professor in 2015
A certificate of merit from the Addis Ababa City Administration for the research on “Governance and Justice Sector Reform,” a paper presented at the 125th Founding Ceremony of Addis Ababa City in 2012
A certificate for participating in the legal and human rights workshop organized by the Consortium at the IFLS, ECSU with Addis Ababa University, and the University of Graz in 2012.
A certificate of participation for taking part in the training “Enhancing Federalism Scholarship in Ethiopia,” organized by the Forum of Federations and Addis Ababa University in 2011
A certificate of acknowledgment from the House of the Federation of Ethiopia for the Outstanding Contribution of Paper to the 5th International Conference on Federalism in 2010
A letter of recognition from the Ministry of Federal Affairs (currently, the Ministry of Peace) in 2010
Academic Award as the “Top Graduate in 2010” from Ethiopian Civil Service University
Academic Award as one of the “Top 4 Law Graduates in 2007” from the Ethiopian Civil Service University
A certificate of recognition from the House of the Federation of Ethiopia for winning the Constitutional Related Issues Competition organized by TAMSOL Communication and the House of the Federation in 2007
A certificate of recognition from APAP for active participation during the Second National Moot Court Competition on Human Rights held at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia in 2006
Scientific Journal Editorial Board Member-Journal of Public Service Competency Development since 2022, ECSU
Ethiopian Law Schools’ Consortium Member
Advisory Board Member of Constitutional Law and Federalism at the House of the Federation of Ethiopia since 2021
A member of the Federal Judicial Administration Commission of Ethiopia since 2018
A founding member of a think-tank called the Centre for Developmental Studies (CDS)
A member of the Academic Disciplinary Committee of the ECSU from 2012 to 2017