In the sun-warmed fields of Ethiopia, where generations of farmers have tilled the land by instinct and tradition, a quiet revolution is underway—one shaped not by machines alone, but by heart, vision, and data. At the center of it stands Elsabet Tesfa Andualem.
As a Digital Agriculture Senior Project Officer at the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute, Elsabet isn’t just solving problems, she’s unlocking futures. Her daily work focuses on identifying the roadblocks in Ethiopia’s digital agriculture ecosystem and clearing a path for smallholder farmers to thrive. Through mobile apps, advisory platforms, and digital marketplaces, she’s helping farmers connect with the knowledge and resources they need to grow, literally and figuratively.
“Integrating technology into agriculture is no longer optional,” Elsabet says. “It’s essential.”
That urgency fuels her passion. She knows that with the right tools, even the most remote farmer can access real-time market prices, receive tailored advice for their crops, and make informed decisions that improve their productivity and income.
But for Elsabet, this work isn’t just technical. It’s deeply personal. It’s rooted in Ubuntu.
“I am because we are,” she says softly, echoing the African philosophy that guides her life.
At work, she models Ubuntu through collaboration and inclusion. Whether she’s leading a strategy meeting or training a rural extension officer, Elsabet listens deeply, invites all voices to the table, and champions shared growth. At home, Ubuntu looks like patience, support, and daily acts of care, showing up for family, honoring elders, and nurturing the dreams of the next generation.
Elsabet’s journey is far from over. At Osiri University, she is pursuing a Master of Science of Data Science and Information Systems. With a clear goal of becoming a data scientist focused on agriculture, she dreams of designing even more targeted, scalable solutions for farmers. She sees a future where data is not a distant concept, but a daily companion in every farmer’s pocket, guiding choices, preventing losses, and lighting the way forward.
Elsabet is planting seeds of change, digital, human, and hopeful. And thanks to her, the harvest promises more food, more dignity, more opportunity, and a more connected, compassionate world.
