VIDO community
Indigenous NGO · Ethiopia · Proclamation 1113/2019

A resilient, empowered community — every right, realized.

Vital Vision Integrated Development Organization unifies water, health, education, livelihoods and human rights to address systemic poverty and vulnerability holistically.

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Board & Leadership
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Regions of Ethiopia
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Thematic Axes
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Community-Owned

Building Vision With Your Community

VIDO partners with pastoralist families, smallholder farmers, women, children and youth across Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, SNNP, Sidama, Afar, Benishangul and Gambela. Programs are community-designed and community-owned — from WASH and primary healthcare to indigenous seed banks and elder-led reconciliation.

Explore Thematic Focus
  • WASH & sanitation
  • Primary healthcare & nutrition
  • Quality education & ECD
  • Livelihoods & cooperatives
  • Women & youth empowerment
  • Climate-resilient infrastructure
Vision
Envisioning a resilient, empowered community where every individual enjoys the fundamental right to health, education, and economic security.
Mission
To empower vulnerable and marginalized communities to achieve self-reliance through integrated programs improving access to sustainable livelihoods, quality education, healthcare and economic empowerment for men, women, children and youth.
Goal
Implement holistic, multi-sectoral solutions — combining water, health, education, food and livelihoods — to build community resilience and self-reliance.
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Voices from the field

VIDO's integrated approach — water, health and education together — has changed what is possible for our village in a single season.

Amina H.
Community Member, Afar Region
Thematic Focus
Integrated development model
Thematic Focus
Board & Leadership
9 professionals steering VIDO
Board & Leadership
Diaspora
Co-invest with us
Diaspora
Thematic Focus

One integrated model. Six areas of action.

Multisectoral programs designed with communities, aligned to regional and national goals, and delivered under the MEAL framework.

WASH

Clean water, sanitation and hygiene for underserved rural and pastoralist communities.

Health & Nutrition

Primary healthcare, HIV/AIDS response, maternal & child nutrition and emergency response.

Education

Quality education, early childhood development and out-of-school youth pathways.

Environment & Livelihoods

Natural-resource management, climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable income generation.

Youth & Women Empowerment

Skill-building, gender equity and empowerment of women, girls and youth.

Peace & Good Governance

Human rights, democracy, conflict management and community-led peacebuilding.

Governance

General Assembly → Executive Board → Executive Director

VIDO has a General Assembly of like-minded professionals. The Board of Directors, elected by the General Assembly, is responsible for directing the organization towards its vision and mission.

General Assembly
The Supreme Body
Executive Board
Strategic Direction
Executive Director
Daily Operations · Mr. Tadesse Atlabachew Abegaz
Department
Health & Education
Department
Environment & Agriculture
Department
Peace, Youth & Digital
Department
Finance, HR Administration
Department
Partnership, Resource Mobilization & M&E
Engagement Approach

One Problem — One Project — One Solution.

Driven by local wisdom, guided by evidence, and dedicated to building lasting community resilience. Every VIDO project starts with a community-led needs assessment and ends with sustainability transferred to local hands.

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Ethiopian community

Upcoming Events

Coming soon — stay tuned!

News

Coming soon — we'll share updates here!

Board & Chief Executive

Nine leaders steering the vision

Portrait photos of each board member and the CEO. Replace the placeholders with official headshots as they become available.

Professor Yifru Berhan Mitke
Board Chairperson
Professor Yifru Berhan Mitke

A distinguished OB-GYN specialist, medical researcher, and public health leader with over 29 years of clinical, teaching, and executive leadership experience. Currently Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Consultant and Researcher at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, and Scientific Advisor to the HaSET maternal and child health research program. Former Minister of Health of Ethiopia (2016–2018) and College Head with Vice President rank at Addis Ababa University and Hawassa University. Co-author of 86+ peer-reviewed publications shaping maternal and neonatal health policy across East Africa.

Mr. Abatiye Hailemariyam
Deputy Board Chairperson
Mr. Abatiye Hailemariyam

Public health and development executive with 21+ years of leadership across Ethiopia's health sector. Expertise spans health systems strengthening, governance, public-private partnerships, market systems development and sustainable financing. Has served in senior leadership roles across prominent national and international organizations, from frontline healthcare delivery to executive management. As Deputy Chairperson of VIDO, he provides strategic direction to strengthen governance, foster partnerships, mobilize resources and advance the organization's mission of sustainable, inclusive community development.

Mr. Tadesse Atlabachew Abegaz
Chief Executive Director & Board Secretary
Mr. Tadesse Atlabachew Abegaz

Public health executive and development leader with two decades of experience in health systems strengthening, policy and institutional governance. Currently CEO of VIDO; previously Senior Special Advisor to the Ethiopian Minister of Health, Mayor of Gundo Meskel Town, and Director General of the Addis Ababa Food and Medicine Authority. Veteran board leader across 12+ institutions; led national digital-health reforms and major partnerships with WHO, USAID and The Global Fund. M.Sc. Healthcare Management; PhD Research Fellow (UNISA).

Dr. Daniel Hailemichael Burssa
Board Member
Dr. Daniel Hailemichael Burssa

A highly respected public health executive and clinical policy advisor with extensive experience in health system design and medical services management. Former Director General of the Medical Services Directorate at the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health and Senior Advisor to the Minister of Health. A driving force behind national medical quality standards, pediatric care initiatives and emergency healthcare responses, bridging high-level policy with impactful clinical delivery on the ground.

Dr. Zelalem Mulatu Demme
Board Member
Dr. Zelalem Mulatu Demme

A prominent educational policymaker and academic, currently Head of the Addis Ababa City Administration Bureau of Education and member of the City Council. Oversees the capital's public, private and international school systems — championing systemic reforms, curriculum modernization and Early Childhood Development. Spearheaded Addis Ababa's acclaimed School Feeding Program, recipient of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Award. PhD in Political Science and International Relations, Addis Ababa University.

Mr. Yohannes Mitiku Diro
Board Member
Mr. Yohannes Mitiku Diro

A highly accomplished public administrator and governance expert with a distinguished career in regional and municipal leadership. Has served in key executive positions within Oromia Regional State and as Head of the Mayor's Office (Cabinet Secretariat) for the Addis Ababa City Administration. Recognized for strategic leadership in streamlining municipal operations, managing cabinet affairs, and driving development initiatives bridging regional and capital-city administrations.

Hakim Abebech Shiferaw
Board Member
Hakim Abebech Shiferaw

A highly revered traditional medicine expert, conservationist and honored community leader. A 52nd-generation healer who began her training at age five, she carries a profound ancestral lineage of indigenous medical and botanical knowledge. Founder and manager of the Deshet Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants Research Centre — a field gene bank preserving 600+ native medicinal plant species. Collaborates with the Federal Ministry of Health on botanical research and is a powerful voice for Ethiopia's ecological heritage and indigenous flora.

Dr. Abas Hassen Yesuf
Board Member
Dr. Abas Hassen Yesuf

A prominent Ethiopian public health executive and medical leader serving as Lead Executive Officer for Health System Innovation and Quality at the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia. Leads national initiatives to enhance healthcare quality, institutionalize the Patient Safety Friendly Hospital Framework and establish facility accreditation systems. Drives national digital-health transformation — integrating artificial intelligence, telehealth and innovative digital frameworks to strengthen healthcare delivery across Ethiopia.

Dr. Merawi Goshu
Board Member
Dr. Merawi Goshu

Ethiopian educational expert, psychological advocate and Founder of EREGEB Educational Services. Advocates for modernizing learning systems, prioritizing student psychological well-being and transforming traditional academic practices. Through EREGEB, promotes holistic learning frameworks, student mental-health awareness and constructive parenting approaches across Ethiopia. A prominent thought leader challenging conventional teaching methods and inspiring educators, parents and policymakers to foster resilience, critical thinking and inclusive learning environments.

Connect with us

@vitalvision
Integrated Development
Water, health, education, livelihoods, human rights.
@vitalvision
One Problem, One Project, One Solution
Our engagement approach.
@vitalvision
Community-Led
Needs assessment driven by local wisdom.
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MEAL Discipline
Monitoring, evaluation, accountability & learning.
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Design For Resilience
Self-reliant ecosystems, not aid dependency.
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Diaspora Window
Bring your skills home from anywhere.
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Elder Councils
Traditional reconciliation, engineered.
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Seed Banks
Indigenous varieties, regenerative soils.
Diaspora Engagement Window

Bring your skills home — from anywhere in the world.

Ethiopian professionals abroad can co-invest technical time, mentorship, or capital into a live thematic axis of VIDO's work.

Open Intake Portal