Tesfaye Wolde

Tesfaye Wolde serves as an Acquisition & Assistance Specialist at USAID/Ethiopia (Agency Code: 720663), where he plays a pivotal role in executing the agency’s mission to advance sustainable development through strategic procurement and assistance mechanisms. He manages the full lifecycle of non-construction and technical service acquisitions, ensuring alignment with U.S. foreign assistance priorities in public health, education, and governance. His portfolio primarily supports institutional capacity building, program implementation, and technical assistance initiatives, often involving performance-based contracts and cooperative agreements designed to strengthen local systems and promote indigenous ownership. Tesfaye collaborates with a diverse array of international and local service providers, including professional firms specializing in public health programming, education system strengthening, and governance advisory services. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages with organizations possessing deep technical expertise in development sectors, prioritizing firms with demonstrated experience in Ethiopian contexts and strong monitoring and evaluation capabilities. His contracting approach emphasizes transparency, compliance with federal acquisition regulations, and alignment with USAID’s local partnership goals. Tesfaye’s procurement activity reflects a strong preference for open, non-set-aside competitions, with 100% of his awards issued without socioeconomic set-asides. This indicates a focus on technical merit and programmatic fit over mandated socioeconomic categories, though he remains committed to fair and competitive processes that allow all eligible vendors—large and small—to compete on an equal footing based on capability and value. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), reflecting his leadership in securing expert consulting, research, and technical assistance for complex development challenges. He also oversees limited construction-related acquisitions under NAICS 236220 and 237110, supporting infrastructure that enables health and water access programs. His domain expertise centers on evidence-based program design, institutional strengthening, and cross-sectoral integration in fragile and resource-constrained environments.