Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Fitsum Alemayehu serves as WACI Health’s Liaison Manager to the African Union Commission (AUC) and coordinates the African Civil Society Platform for Health (CiSPHA).

Fitsum represents WACI Health in various technical working groups, including the Specialized Technical Committee for Health, the African Leadership Meeting (ALM) Advocacy and Communication and Private Sector Engagement subcommittees, the Hepatitis Technical Working Group (TWG), the RMNCH Taskforce, and the Health, Nutrition, and Population Partnership within the African Union. He is also involved with the Coalition of Advocates for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness and has convened African CSOs toward the UN-HLM political declaration on Pandemic Preparedness and Response. Additionally, he facilitated the inaugural One Africa TB Summit, which resulted in Africa’s first CSO Common Position on TB, addressing the UN-HLM TB Political Declaration and guiding Africa’s TB response.

Currently, Fitsum consults for the Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism of Ethiopia (CCM/E), positioning it within Ethiopia’s health governance structures. His efforts include mapping health governance structures and facilitating a national workshop to define roles and responsibilities across constituencies, supporting a smooth transition of the CCM/E. Fitsum has also been a steering group member for CSOs and local authorities for the 6th AU-EU Summit, which later evolved into an Advisory Group for CSOs in AU-EU Partnerships. He coordinated a CSO working group under the AU’s Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), producing a policy booklet on the 2022 theme, Year of Nutrition. He currently serves as a CSO focal point for Africa CDC-CSO engagements and as an alternate member of the Ports2arms (P2A) Community Reference Group for Eastern Africa.

Fitsum has extensive experience in research, with numerous studies, evaluations, and needs assessments at the regional and national levels in education, livelihoods, health, and agriculture. He has consulted with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to document good practices in “school-to-work transition” in three AU member states. Additionally, Fitsum was a member of the C-20 Health Working Group and served as a technical youth advisor for the Women and Youth TWG of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in 2015/16.

Fitsum is currently pursuing a Master of Arts (MA) in Environment and Sustainable Development at Addis Ababa University. He holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Rural Development and Family Science.