SECAM establishes presence at the African Union in Addis Ababa

Mr. Berhanu Tamene Woldeyohannes has been appointed by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) as a Programme Officer of the  SECAM Justice, Development and Governance Department. He will be responsible for the SECAM African Union (AU) Liaison Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The appointment takes immediate effect.

 Mr. Woldeyohannes will facilitate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an Observer Status for SECAM at the AU. This is in line with some of the objectives of the Catholic Church in Africa in contributing to the building of a unified, integrated, strong, democratic, well governed, developed, prosperous, equitable, peaceful and respected Africa. 

To enhance SECAM’s objectives of working with the AU, Mr. Woldeyohannes is expected to collaborate with Regional Justice and Peace Commissions in the sharing of information of common concern in order to provide guidance to decision makers. With the Regional Justice and Peace Commissions he will create collaborative relationships with Regional Economic Commissions in Africa in order to promote the Integral Development of Africa in line with the Post-Synodal Exhortation Africae Munus and the AU 2063 Development Agenda for the continent.

Prior to his joining SECAM, Mr. Woldeyohannes was Head of the Justice and Peace Department of the Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia. He was also an instructor of Social Sciences and Ethical Education in one of the Secondary Schools of the Catholic Church in Addis Ababa. He in the past worked for the Social and Community Development Program of the Catholic Church of Ethiopia in the Youth and Gender Programme Section.

Mr. Woldeyohannes has major competences in facilitation, community education, trainings and organizing events. He also has vast experience in planning, analysing, implementing as well as monitoring and evaluating peace initiatives and conflict transformation processes at the community level.

He holds an Executive Master’s Degree in Managing Peace and Security and a degree in Law from Addis Ababa University, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, PGDBA from Loyola Institute of Business Administration India and BA in Philosophy from Arrupe College, Jesuit Institute of Philosophy and Humanities, Harare-Zimbabwe. 

(Communications Office of SECAM)

e-mail: [e-mail]