Negussie Teffera, Ph.D.

Dr. Negussie Teffera was the Ethiopia Country Representative of Population Media Center from January 2000 to late 2019. Previously, he was a senior radio program producer at the former international radio station RVOG (1972-1975); chief political commentator and pioneer in investigative journalism at Radio Ethiopia (1975-1980); Chief Media for Development Coordinator at the Central Planning Supreme Council (1979-1989; Head of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Information Bureau in the Office of the Prime Minister, with the rank of Vice-Minister (1989-1993) and Head, National Office of Population, Office of the Prime Minister in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1993-2000).

He was Chairman of the National Committee that wrote Ethiopia’s first National Population Policy. He was also the Chairman of the Task Force that developed the first National Population Communication IEC and Advocacy Strategy for Ethiopia. He was also involved in developing the HIV/AIDS Communication Framework and National Health Communication Strategy. He was a member of the international team that developed the Swaziland, IE/BCC, and Advocacy Strategy for addressing Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS. He was the President of the Ethiopian Journalists’ Association for five years (1976-1980). He has been a professional trainer and faculty member of the Hawaii-based (USA) Haggai Advanced Leadership Training Institute since 2005. He is the author of several research papers and articles on aspects of media communication strategy for behavior change communication.

Dr. Negussie is the author of Innovative Media and Communication Strategy for Development: Ethiopia’s Experience, Communication for Social Development: An Overview and the Ethiopian Experience, and The Ethiopian Media Profile. He is the co-editor of two English-translated books, Blood Price and Ditched in the Jungle, real-life stories related to harmful traditional practices in Ethiopia.

Dr. Negussie won The 2011 African Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Communication Strategy Development for Reproductive Health. He is also one of the two recipients of the Ethiopian Government and UNFPA-sponsored special Medal for his 20 years of outstanding contribution to the writing and implementation of the Ethiopian National Population Policy. He also won the ninth Bego Sew National Award in the Media Section. He also received the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) Lifetime Award for his long-time achievements in radio journalism. As a volunteer, he serves as the Ombudsman of the Ethiopian Media Council.

He received a Ph.D. from the University of Wales (UK) in Communication Studies in 1988; a Master’s of Education in Journalism and Media Studies from University College Cardiff in Wales; a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Government from Addis Ababa University; plus a certificate in Communication and Radio Broadcasting from All African Communication Training Institute, Nairobi. Other short-term specialized courses and studies in media and communication were carried out at Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University; the UN Regional Population Communication Training Institute (Nairobi); International Health Program IHP (Santa Cruz, California); Haggai Advanced Leadership Institute in Maui, Hawaii; and the Steinhardt School of Education, New York University, New York.