Beza Tesfaye

Beza Tesfaye is director of research and learning for migration and climate change at Mercy Corps with over a decade of applied research experience on migration, conflict prevention, and governance. Her work focuses on using research and evidence to inform international development and humanitarian policies and investments related to dynamic issues facing fragile and conflict-affected countries. She has overseen multiyear evidence-generating projects funded by donors such as the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Carnegie Corporation. She has published more than 10 policy reports based on primary research undertaken in Niger, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, El Salvador, Kenya, Ethiopia, and elsewhere. Her research has also appeared in peer-reviewed journals such as the American Journal of Political Science and African Identities, as well as outlets including the Washington Post, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, and the New Humanitarian. Prior to Mercy Cops, she worked on international development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding issues in the United States and internationally for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Freedom House, the International Rescue Committee, and USAID. In her personal capacity, Beza serves on the advisory board of the Better Evidence Project (BEP), an initiative that seeks to improve the evidence available to donors, policymakers, practitioners, and scholars in the peacebuilding community. Beza received her MPA and a BA with high honors from Princeton University. She speaks English, French, and Amharic.