He has been serving as CEO since September 1, 2023. He has extensive experience in the health sector, including his work as a State Minister of Health between 2005 and 2018 and senior advisor to the minister for about five years from 2018 to 2023. He has a proven track record of success in developing and implementing policies and programs, and he has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the early childhood care and education sector in Ethiopia.
Dr. Kebede also served on the board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDs, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. This demonstrates his commitment to global health and his understanding of the importance of early childhood development in the fight against poverty and disease. In these roles, he provided leadership to the health sector, set policies and implementation strategies, and oversaw key health sector missions. Along with the leadership of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women & Children Affairs, and development partners, he played a key role in the development of the first national policy framework for early childhood care and education in Ethiopia which was launched in 2010. Dr. Kebede holds Medical Doctor, Master of Public Health and Management Certificates.
