Fanos Mekonnen Birke has joined the Prolinnova International Support Team. At its May 2021 meeting, the Board of Agrecol Association – the Northern Focal Point of the Prolinnova network – decided that Fanos would be the contact person between Agrecol and Prolinnova.
She has many years’ experience with Prolinnova, as she facilitated analysis of efforts to integrate the PID approach into agricultural advisory services in Cambodia and Tigray (Northern Ethiopia) and was part of the Prolinnova–Ethiopia network. She holds an MSc in Management of Agroecological Knowledge and Social Change from the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands and recently completed her doctorate in the Department of Communication and Advisory Services in Rural Areas at the University of Hohenheim in southern Germany. Her doctoral research was on “Public agriculture extension and information communication technologies: a case study in South Wollo, Ethiopia”.
Fanos now has a post-doc position with the University of Hohenheim, working on a project funded by the European Union that is aiming to boost the competencies of advisors to engage and support farmers and foresters in interactive innovation processes in Europe. In addition, as an Agrecol Board Member, she will be advising the Prolinnova network and keeping the Agrecol Association informed about Prolinnova activities.
