Historic Bylaw Endorsement Launches Tekeze Blue Hub into Official Implementation Phase
Sheraton Addis, ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – May 23, 2026 –
The Tekeze Blue Hub Initiative (TBHI) today achieved a transformative milestone with the official signing of its governing bylaw and the simultaneous launch of its Program Office. The ceremony, held at the Sheraton Addis Hotel, marks the transition of TBHI from a collaborative vision to a fully operational platform dedicated to tackling malnutrition, poverty, and ecosystem degradation across the Tekeze Basin.
Convened by YADAM Foundation and UNICEF Ethiopia, TBHI represents the first consortium of its kind in Ethiopia to unite academia, regional governments, and international development partners under a co‑design, co‑financing, and co‑implementation model.
In his opening address, H.E. Demeke Mekonnen, Founder and Chairman of YADAM Foundation, underscored the significance of the moment: “Today is not merely a signing ceremony. It is the culmination of relentless groundwork and the beginning of accountable, collective action. The Tekeze Blue Hub represents a new paradigm, where universities move from theory to practice, where development partners invest not as donors but as co-architects, and where communities are the ultimate beneficiaries. YADAM Foundation championed this model because siloed efforts cannot solve basin-scale challenges. The bylaws we endorse today enshrine shared governance, mutual accountability, and a clear path to impact.”
Dr. Aboubake Kampo, Representative of UNICEF Ethiopia, reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment: “For children and their communities, Food & Nutrition security is non-negotiable. The Tekeze Blue Hub is a strategic investment in resilience. By embedding academic rigor within a multi-sectoral governance structure, this consortium will generate evidence-based, scalable solutions. UNICEF is proud to convene alongside YADAM Foundation, and we look forward to the project office’s launch as the engine of implementation.”
The signing ceremony saw each consortium member university delegate, alongside representatives of development partners, formally endorse the bylaw, committing their institutions to research, resource contribution, capacity building, and community engagement within the TBHI framework:
- YADAM Foundation
- UNICEF
- Light Ethiopia
- Bahir Dar University (serving as Secretariat)
- University of Gondar
- Wollo University
- Woldia University
- Mekele University
- Debark University
- Raya University
- Axum University
With bylaws now in effect, the consortium will proceed to the official launch of the Tekeze Blue Hub project office. This physical and administrative nerve center will coordinate research agendas, pilot interventions, capacity-building programs, and multi-stakeholder dialogues across the basin. Secretariat functions will rotate among member universities, ensuring distributed leadership and sustained institutional ownership.
