Mr Fekadu Israel Alambo, Hawassa University, Ethiopia
Fekadu Israel Alambo is an Ethiopian sociologist and academic currently serving as an Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology at Hawassa University, Ethiopia. Born on 27 September 1986, he has steadily built a career in teaching, research, and academic leadership. His scholarly journey began at Adama University and continued with an MA in Sociology from Addis Ababa University. Fekadu is widely respected for his work in rural livelihoods, environmental sociology, and social development. With over a decade of teaching experience at both Dilla and Hawassa Universities, he has also supervised numerous research projects and contributed to research councils and ethics committees. He has published extensively in national and international journals on issues ranging from agroforestry to elderly care systems. His work emphasizes the intersection of society, sustainability, and local development, making significant contributions to rural sociology and community-based development in Ethiopia.
Publication Profile
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Education
Fekadu Israel Alambo earned his Master of Arts in Sociology (Rural and Agricultural Sociology) from Addis Ababa University (2012–2014), graduating with a CGPA of 3.79/4.00 and an MA thesis titled “Assessing the Impacts of Afforestation and Reforestation CDM Project on Local Livelihoods.” Earlier, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Social Work from Adama University (2007–2010), finishing with a CGPA of 3.85/4.00 and the distinction of “Very Great Distinction.” His undergraduate thesis focused on “Cause and Effect Analysis of Youth Rural-out Migration in Wolayta Zone.” In 2015–2016, he also received a Higher Diploma License from Dilla University, certifying him as a Professional Teacher Educator. His academic training provided a strong foundation in sociological theory, rural development, quantitative research methods, and natural resource management—tools that he effectively employs in his teaching and research career focused on Ethiopia’s social and environmental challenges.
Experience
Fekadu has held progressive academic roles since 2010. He began as a Graduate Assistant at Dilla University, later becoming an Assistant Lecturer during his MA studies. From 2014 to 2018, he worked as a Lecturer at Dilla University, where he taught sociology and supervised undergraduate theses, eventually serving as Department Chair. In 2018, he joined Hawassa University, first as a Lecturer and later promoted to Assistant Professor in 2020. Currently, he is the Head of the Department of Sociology. He has served in multiple academic governance roles, including coordinator of the MA program, member of the Research Council, Ethics Committee, and Staff Affairs Committee. His teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate sociology courses, and he has co-supervised several MA theses. His work integrates academic leadership, research mentorship, and curriculum development, reflecting over a decade of impactful academic and administrative experience in Ethiopian higher education.
Awards and Honors
While formal award listings are not explicitly documented, Fekadu Israel Alambo has earned significant academic honors throughout his career. He graduated with “Very Great Distinction” from Adama University and received an “A” grade with “Very Good” designation for his Master’s thesis at Addis Ababa University, reflecting his academic excellence. His professional advancement—from Graduate Assistant to Assistant Professor and Department Head—underscores recognition by peers and institutions for his leadership, teaching, and research contributions. His selection as Chairperson of the Sociology Department at Dilla University and Head of the Sociology Department at Hawassa University reflects trust in his governance and academic vision. He has also served on important university bodies like the Research Council, Ethics Committee, and Staff Affairs Committee, positions that are typically reserved for accomplished and respected faculty. These roles and recognitions collectively attest to his standing as a leading academic in Ethiopian sociology.
Research Focus
Fekadu Israel Alambo’s research focuses on the intersection of rural livelihoods, environmental sociology, community development, and social protection systems. He has worked extensively on evaluating the socioeconomic impacts of afforestation and reforestation, the role of indigenous agroforestry systems in food security, and livelihood transformations in pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. His research also delves into elderly care systems, youth migration, and social impacts of development interventions. He often works on multidisciplinary projects in collaboration with NGOs and academic institutions, targeting sustainable solutions for vulnerable rural populations in Ethiopia. Fekadu employs both qualitative and quantitative methods in his research, frequently engaging in participatory and field-based studies. His scholarly efforts aim to inform policies that improve the social resilience of rural communities and advocate for community ownership of development initiatives. Overall, his research is deeply rooted in empowering marginalized populations through sociologically informed interventions and sustainable development practices.
Publication Top Notes
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📘 Drought, Dams, and Disruptions: Socioeconomic and cultural transformations among the Dassenech pastoralists (Forthcoming)
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🧩 Fostering Community Ownership for Sustainable Social Innovations in Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Regions (2025)
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🌱 Agroforestry-based Livelihoods in the Face of Cultural and Socio-economic Dynamics in Rural Gedeo (2020)
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👶 Home truths behind closed doors: Lived experiences of child domestic workers in Gedeo Zone (2019)
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👴 Elderly Care and Social Support Systems among the Gedeo of Southern Ethiopia (2019)
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🌳 Impacts of Forest Carbon Sequestration Initiative on Community Assets: Assisted Natural Regeneration in Humbo (2017)
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🪵 Livelihood Impacts of Forest Carbon Project: Regenerated Forest in Humbo District (2015)