Mariam Demeke joined the Freedom Fund in February 2025 as a Program Officer for the Ethiopia hotspot. In this role, she leads the safe migration component, ensuring strategic alignment and program integrity across the portfolio. She manages partner organizations under the U.S. State Department-funded Program to End Modern Slavery (PEMS) and THRIVE program, while working closely to support survivor-led organizations.
Mariam is an experienced program advisor and legal expert with a strong background in migration management, protection, labour migration and stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining the Freedom Fund, she served as a Programme Advisor for the GIZ Better Migration Management (BMM) programme, where she coordinated key international implementing partners and government counterparts on migration governance and protection. Her professional background also includes working with local NGOs and delivering legal education as a University Lecturer at Dilla University. Mariam’s expertise encompasses capacity building, strategic planning, and gender mainstreaming. She also has extensive volunteering experience at legal aid centers, providing legal assistance to vulnerable communities.
She holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Commercial Law from Hawassa University and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Dilla University. She is also an alumna of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Leadership in Civic Engagement.
Key information
- Joined our team in
- February 2025