APSP Research and Policy Analysis

Mercy Fekadu (PhD), Associate Professor

Mercy Fekadu (PhD), Associate Professor

Director, Institute for Peace and Security Studies, Director ARUA

Cynthia Happi

Cynthia Happi

African Solutions Journal (AfSOL) Managing Editor

Maysoon Mukhier

Maysoon Mukhier

Researcher

Jesutimilehin O. Akamo

Jesutimilehin O. Akamo

Research and Policy Analysis unit Coordinator

Abraham Gelaw

Abraham Gelaw

Researcher

© 2025 Institute for Peace and Security Studies

 

Mercy Fekadu, Associate Professor

Director, Institute for Peace and Security Studies

 

 

 

Mercy Fekadu Mulugeta (Ph.D.) is an Associate Professor and Interim Director, Institute for Peace and Security Studies, AAU, and Secretariat Member of the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa (Nov 2011–On-Going). Her research interests include; Borderland Governance, Boundary and Territorial conflict, Security Governance, Statehood, Conflict, Small Arms and Light Weapons, Disarmament, Regionalisms, Women, Peace, and Security.

Research grants won:

    • Principal Investigator (Oct 2020 to Oct 2021): Facebook-funded research project entitled Dangerous Speech, Social Media and Violence in Ethiopia;
    • Co-Investigator (April 2020 to March 2023): UKRI/ GCRF funded project entitled Dangerous Speech, Social Media and Violence in Ethiopia;
    • Principal Investigator(May to August 2020): Netherland Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD)  funded project entitled Probing the practice of Representation for informed Intervention in Parliaments (PRIP): Focus on the House of People’s Representatives of Ethiopia;
    • Principal Investigator (2018 to Dec 2019): GIZ/ African Union border programme funded Research project entitled Research on Boundary and Territorial Conflict Eastern and Greater Horn of Africa;Principal Investigator(2018-2019): Global Research Network on Parliaments and People funded research project entitled Bridging research and innovation for democratic governance and enhanced participation (BRIDGE 4 Participation);
    • Principal Investigator (2017-2019): ESRC – DfID funded research project entitled Shifting Inequality Dynamics in Ethiopia: From Research to Practice (SIDERA);

 

Recent publications:

    • Hodbod, J., Stevenson, E. G., Akall, G., Akuja, T., Angelei, I., Bedasso, E. A., … Mercy Fekadu Mulugeta& Kamski, B. (2019). Social-ecological change in the Omo-Turkana basin: A synthesis of current developments. Ambio, 1-17.
    • Mercy Fekadu Mulugeta;Gebresenbet, F., Tariku, Y., & Nettir, E. (2019). Fundamental Challenges in Academic–Government Partnership in Conflict Research in the Pastoral Lowlands of Ethiopia. IDSBulletin, 50(1).
    • Mercy Fekadu Mulugeta(2017) Small Arms And Conflict Among East African Pastoralists: The Karamoja (In)Security Complex. Africa, 87(4), Oct 2017.
    • Mercy Fekadu Mulugeta, Gebresenbet, F., and Kamski, B. (2019). Sugar industry in the Lower Omo: Exploring different scenarios of privatization. (Briefing Note #6). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, MI: OTuRN.
    • Mercy Fekadu Mulugeta.Digital Participation in Ethiopia: A presentation of a web based application (BRIDGE)for the House of People’s Representatives. (2019). Policy Brief. Bete-Semay Creative Media.

 

 

Cynthia Happi

Managing Editor of the African Solutions Journal (AfSoL)

 

 

 

Cynthia Happi is the Managing Editor of the African Solutions Journal (AfSoL) at the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She holds a master’s degree in international relations (International disputes and conflict resolution) from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC) and is currently pursuing a joint PhD in Global Studies (with a special emphasis on peace and security in Africa) at Leipzig University and Addis Ababa University. Prior to joining IPSS, Mrs Cynthia was seconded by the African Union to serve as a Program Support Officer at CEMASTEA in Nairobi, Kenya. She also previously worked for the United Nations Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Central Africa (UNCHRD-CA). Her research interests are on governance, democracy and electoral conflicts in Africa.

Recent Publications:

Abraham Gelaw Esayas

Researcher, IPSS

 

 

 

 

Abraham Gelaw Esayas is a researcher, legal professional, and law lecturer with extensive experience in peace and security studies and legal matters. He is currently a Researcher at the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), Addis Ababa University, where he designs and leads multidisciplinary research projects and contributes to policy-relevant publications on Civil-Military Relations, Transitional Justice, Governance, and Security. Abraham previously served as a defence lawyer at the ENDF Military Court and law lecturer at the Ethiopia Defense University and Ethiopian Navy, teaching civilian law, the Laws of the Sea and the Laws of Armed Conflict, and has fifteen years of professional experience. He holds a Master’s degree in Peace and Security Studies from Addis Ababa University and a Master of Public Administration from Sun Yat-Sen University, China, as well as an LL.B from Mekelle University. His research interests include Civil-Military Relations, Transitional Justice, and peace and security governance.

Recent publications: