Solomon Zewdu

Dr. Solomon Zewdu is the deputy director in the Africa office of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation where he shapes continental health, nutrition, disease eradication, and development investments. Prior to moving to the continental platform, he served as the deputy director in Ethiopia, where he created significant opportunities for system-based investments; built on concurrently identifying, planning, and aligning the Foundation’s priorities with the Government of Ethiopia HSTP and the donor community. Given his background in emergency management strategy, planning and response, he also serves as the BMGF COVID-19 coordinator for the African continent, to inform the shaping of critical COVID-19 interventions. Prior to joining the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Zewdu worked both in the private sector and the US Department of Defense up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel – USAF. He relocated to Ethiopia to take the position of Country Director for the US PEPFAR program under the joint program of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health.