Event Date: March 18, 2026 - 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Location: FSS 6032, 120 University Private, University of Ottawa

Registration: Google Forms

Presented by CIPS, the Gender, Peace, and Development Research Network, and Cuso International

Cuso International, CIPS and uOttawa’s Gender, Peace and Development Research Network invite you to an enriching Lunch & Learn examining the transformative role of girls’ education in Ethiopia. Designed as an inclusive and participatory academic gathering, the event brings together students, faculty, researchers, community leaders, and Cuso program representatives for a conversation at the intersection of education, gender equality, and international cooperation.

This is a hybrid event and participation can be in-person or virtual (via Zoom). For those attending in-person, lunch will be provided.

What to Expect

• Program Insights: Evidence-based outcomes presented by Cuso representatives 
• Interactive Dialogue: An opportunity to engage critically, pose questions, and contribute your own academic or experiential perspectives
• Lunch & Networking: Connect with peers, scholars, and practitioners working on global education, gender, and development

We look forward to welcoming you for a thoughtful assessment of how expanding educational opportunities for girls contributes to more equitable, resilient, and “unstoppable” futures, both in Ethiopia and globally.

Speakers:

Wendwossen Kebede is Cuso International’s Country Representative in Ethiopia. He is a development management practitioner who has served as Cuso International’s Country Representative in Ethiopia since October 2015. With more than two decades of experience, he has dedicated his career to advancing voluntarism as a strategic force for national and international development. His work centers on mobilizing and empowering volunteers as catalysts for social change, strengthening community-led initiatives, and fostering partnerships that drive sustainable impact. Throughout his career, Wendwossen has led programs focused on youth engagement, inclusive economic growth, gender equality, and capacity development for local institutions. He is recognized for his ability to bridge global development priorities with local realities, ensuring that volunteer-driven interventions are both contextually grounded and results-oriented. His leadership is marked by a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and the belief that meaningful development emerges when communities are active participants in shaping their own futures.

Mahari Tadele is a Program Manager at Cuso International. He is a public health and development professional with over 14 years of progressive experience in program management, health systems strengthening, and community development. He currently serves as Program Manager at Cuso International, leading the U‑GIRLS 2 project to expand university access for girls. Previously, Mahari managed the RMNCH Knowledge and Skill Transfer Project in the Benishangul‑Gumuz Region and held key leadership roles within the Regional Health Bureau, including Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Coordinator and Public Health Emergency Management Coordinator. His work spans GBV prevention, support for displaced communities, emergency planning, project design, grant acquisition, and capacity building. Mahari holds an MPH from Bahir Dar University and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health from Haramaya University. He is recognized for his strong technical expertise, community‑focused approach, and commitment to improving health and development outcomes.

Anik Cooke is a Senior Manager, Programs at Cuso International. She is a professional with a background in international development and diverse experience in various roles across different organizations. As a Business Advisor volunteer at Cuso International, Anik supported a youth empowerment project in Nicaragua, focusing on entrepreneurship training and administrative tasks. In a leadership capacity at Cowater International, Anik worked on significant tax reform initiatives in Ethiopia and managed a project fostering partnerships in Indonesia’s knowledge and innovation sector. Currently, as Cuso’s Senior Manager, she supports and oversees initiatives on economic development, fostering local partnership development and fighting for human rights. Anik holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Development from the University of Guelph.

Willy Marcel Rangira is a Senior Development Officer with the Education Programming team in the Social and Economic Development Division of the International Assistance Partnerships and Programs at Global Affairs Canada. He brings over 25 years of experience in international cooperation, program management, and gender‑responsive education initiatives across diverse regions. As part of his portfolio, Willy also serves as the Project Team Leader for UGirls2, a Cuso International project that supports improved educational opportunities for girls in Ethiopia. In this capacity, he provides oversight on behalf of Global Affairs Canada and engages with partners to help ensure strong program performance. Willy has experience working across regions on development initiatives related to education, gender equality, and community‑driven solutions that strengthen outcomes for underserved learners.

Moderator:

Rebecca Tiessen is a Canadian academic whose work focuses on international development and gender. She assisted Global Affairs Canada in developing tools to measure the effectiveness of development projects. Her work typically evaluates whether development strategies utilized by bureaucracies can be transformational or whether change within systems is hampered and requires an outside structure to be effective. She is full professor in the School of International Development and Global Studies at the University of Ottawa and co-director of their Gender, Peace, and Development Research Network.