Bethlehem Mengistu is a global expert in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) with over 20 years of experience spanning development and humanitarian issues across Africa and Asia. She currently serves as the Global Coordinator of Agenda for Change, a coalition dedicated to strengthening WASH systems through collaboration and collective action in more than a dozen countries.
{###Bethlehem Mengistu Betre###Ms.###Ethiopian###Female###WASH Agenda for Change###Global Coordinator}
Short Bio
Bethlehem Mengistu is a global expert in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) with over 20 years of experience spanning development and humanitarian issues across Africa and Asia. She currently serves as the Global Coordinator of Agenda for Change, a coalition dedicated to strengthening WASH systems through collaboration and collective action in more than a dozen countries. Her career has focused on leadership, strategy, and systems strengthening, working closely with governments, development partners, and civil society to drive policy change and institutional reform. Bethlehem’s expertise covers WASH, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), governance, gender equality, and human rights.
An Ethiopian national, she brings both regional insight and global perspective to her work, advocating for locally led and inclusive approaches that bridge national realities with global policy and research spaces. She holds an academic background in international development and law and is deeply committed to advancing equitable, resilient, and sustainable WASH systems worldwide.
Motivation/Commitment to the GSC
I am motivated to join the SuSanA Global Steering Committee to strengthen Sub-Saharan Africa’s engagement and representation within the network. As the Global Coordinator of Agenda for Change, I lead a coalition focused on systems strengthening and collaboration in WASH, and I see strong opportunities to bridge our two networks to elevate the importance of sanitation globally. My professional journey, from national implementation to global coordination, has reinforced the value of inclusive, locally grounded systems approaches. I am committed to contributing my expertise, leadership, and regional perspective to advance SuSanA’s mission and collective impact.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the SuSanA community?
It would be a privilege to serve and learn alongside the SuSanA community. I have long admired the network’s openness, knowledge-sharing culture, and commitment to systems thinking. If elected, I would work to strengthen connections between regional practitioners and global partners, and foster collaboration between SuSanA and Agenda for Change to further elevate sanitation as a global development priority. I look forward to contributing to SuSanA’s evolution as an inclusive and action-oriented platform for achieving sustainable sanitation for all.
Links to personal website, social media
