About

About us

Strengthening communities through accountability, equity, and sustainable impact.”

Who We are

The Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray (ACSOT) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-partisan consortium and multi-sectoral CSOs that brings together over 124 national and regional CSOs across all over Tigray.
ACSOT Established in 2007 G.C. and re-registered under the CSOs Proclamation No. 1113/2019 2019 as an Ethiopian Regional consortium with registration No. 1508.
ACSOT strengthens civil society through capacity building, advocacy, networking, and resource mobilization. By uniting CSOs under one umbrella, ACSOT ensures collective voices, reduces duplication of efforts, and fosters impactful collaboration with government, local, and international partners

Vission

To see vibrant, empowered & resilient civil society space that champions democratic governance, sustainable peace and inclusive development;

Mission

ACSOT is committed to strengthen the capacity, collaboration, and sustainability of member CSOs through institutional development, strategic partnership, policy advocacy, and resource mobilization - fostering a united civil society voices, for democratic transformation, peace building and sustainable recovery

🌟 ACSOT Core Values

🤝 Humanity

We uphold dignity and rights, taking action wherever suffering or injustice threatens life and recovery.

⚖️ Impartiality

We serve all communities fairly, without discrimination of ethnicity, gender, belief, or background.

🕊️ Independence

Our decisions remain autonomous, guided by community needs—not political or economic agendas

🌍 Inclusiveness

We ensure marginalized voices—women, children, elders, persons with disabilities—are heard and included.

🔎 Transparency

We build trust through open communication, participatory governance, and clear documentation.

🛡️ Accountability

We take shared responsibility for ethical conduct, resource use, and delivering measurable results.

Years of Experience

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Trainging

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partnership

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Capacity-Building

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Projects

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Clusters

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7 Clusters

Human Rights, Governance & Democratization
Agriculture & Food Security
Youth Development
Social Services Development
Gender & Social Inclusion
Disability Inclusion

Acsot teams

Meet the professionals leading our mission with experience and dedication.

Dr. Yikaalo Welu Kidanemariam

Executive Director

Dr. Yikaalo Welu Kidanemariam is the Executive Director of the Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray (ACSOT). With over 15 years of experience in leadership, project management, and institutional development, he has worked extensively across civil society, academia, and the public sector. Holding a PhD in Management from Jönköping University (Sweden) and Addis Ababa University, along with an MBA and BA from Adama University, Dr. Yikaalo is deeply engaged in peacebuilding, transitional justice, and sustainable development. At ACSOT, he provides strategic leadership and fosters partnerships that strengthen civil society’s role in recovery, peace, and inclusive governance.

Mr. Berihu Gebremedhin

Program Manager

Mr. Berihu Gebremedhin is the Program Manager at the Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray (ACSOT). He holds an MBA in Project Management, a Postgraduate Diploma, and a BA in Agricultural Economics. Berihu began his career with the Ministry of Agriculture, supporting national agricultural and natural resource programs, before moving to civil society. With extensive experience in project design, management, and implementation, he has worked on initiatives in humanitarian support, food security, livelihoods, and community development. His current work focuses on post-war recovery, peacebuilding, and transitional justice, with a strong commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and promoting sustainable economic development in Tigray and across affected regions.

Mr. Welday Abraha Gebremedhin

Project Coordinator

Mr. Welday Abraha Gebremedhin is the Project Coordinator at the Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray (ACSOT). With over 20 years of experience in governance, humanitarian programming, environmental protection, and education, he has worked across civil society, government, and academic sectors. Holding an MSc in Economics (Development Policy Analysis) from Mekelle University, a BA in Management from Sheba University College, and a BA in Geography with a minor in Demography from Addis Ababa University, Welday is currently pursuing an MA in Early Childhood Care and Development. At ACSOT, he leads initiatives in human rights, peacebuilding, civic advocacy, and ex-combatant reintegration, building partnerships that strengthen inclusive development and resilient governance in Tigray.

Ms. Yared Berhe

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Ms. Freweyni Gebreanenya Haylu

Finance & Admin Head

Ms. Freweyni Gebreanenya Haylu is the Finance and Administration Head at the Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray (ACSOT). With over seven years of experience in accounting, financial management, and administration across private and non-governmental sectors, she brings deep expertise in donor compliance, budgeting, payroll, procurement, and reporting. Freweyni holds BA degrees in Accounting and Management and is recognized for her strong skills in financial oversight, organizational compliance, and effective resource management.

Ms. Furtuna Kahsay

Admin & Information Officer

Ms. Furtuna Kahsay is the Administrative Assistant and Information Management Officer at ACSOT. She holds a Master’s degree in Management of Information Systems and brings strong expertise in data management, office administration, and digital tools. With prior experience at the Mekelle Administration Office and OSSHD, she has developed solid skills in information handling, reporting, and organizational planning. Known for her professionalism, adaptability, and attention to detail, Furtuna is dedicated to enhancing efficiency and supporting data-driven decision-making within the organization.

Awards & Certificates

Speaking for the Voiceless and Standing for the Helpless

ACSOT received this grant certificate from the British Council – Civil Society Support Programme (CSSP2) for successfully completing a strategic grant project titled “Speaking for the Voiceless and Standing for the Helpless in Tigray and Afar,” aimed at supporting and advocating for vulnerable and marginalized communities in Tigray and Afar during the period of November 2019 – June 2021.

Enhancing Human Rights, Gender Equality, and Inclusion (2019–2021)

ACSOT received this grant certificate from the British Council – Civil Society Support Programme (CSSP2) for successfully implementing a flexible COVID-19 Response Grant project titled “Enhancing Human Right Protection (HRP), Gender Equality (GE), and Social Inclusion (SI) in Government Responses to COVID-19 Pandemic in Ethiopia.” The project, co-implemented with ECSF, promoted human rights, gender equality, and inclusion in pandemic-related government responses during the period of November 2019 – April 2021.

Ethiopia Social Accountability Program(ESAP3)

ACSOT received this grant certificate from the VNG international and ESAP for successfully implementing a project titled “Ethiopia Social Accountability Program(ESAP3)” aimed at strengthening the social accountability systems and mechanisms for enhanced service delivery in Ethiopia

Re-strengthen and Re-operationalize GBV Response in Tigray (Re-Start) (2022–2023)

ACSOT received this grant certificate from the British Council – Civil Society Support Programme (CSSP2) for successfully completing a Conflict Response and Peacebuilding Grant project titled “Re-strengthen and Re-operationalize Selected CSOs to Support GBV Response in Tigray Region (Re-Start).” The project, co-implemented with ASDEPO, aimed at strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) to respond to gender-based violence and support post-conflict recovery efforts in Tigray during the period of August 2022 – March 2023.

Our Partners

At ACSOT, we believe lasting change is built through collaboration. Our work is made possible by the generous support of national and international partners who share our vision for peace, equity, and community resilience. Together, we are empowering people, rebuilding institutions, and driving inclusive development across Ethiopia.