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15+ Years Leadership

Leadership Perspective

Kassahun Tadese

(MBA, MPH & BA )

Chief Executive Director, NEP+ | ካሳሁን ታደሰ

kastas2020@gmail.com / kasshun@nepplus.org

NEP+ is the national network representing the voices, rights, and lived experiences of people living with HIV in Ethiopia. Under Kassahun Tadese’s leadership, NEP+ ensures that the meaningful involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) is embedded in policies, programs, and national HIV responses—not treated as an afterthought.

With over a decade of experience in HIV/AIDS leadership and community advocacy, Kassahun brings a strong balance of strategic leadership, technical expertise, and community-driven action, bridging national policy with grassroots realities to advance dignity, equity, and sustainable access to quality HIV services across the country.

Kassahun Tadese is a seasoned management and HIV/AIDS program expert with more than twelve years of progressive experience leading and coordinating HIV-related programs and managing PLHIV associations at local, regional, and federal levels.

Before becoming Executive Director of NEP+, he served as an Adherence Support Advisor at ICAP in Ethiopia, providing technical support to Adherence Case Management (ACM) programs at health facility, regional, and national levels. His work focused on strengthening the quality and effectiveness of HIV care and treatment services.

He also coordinated pilot HIV programs in collaboration with ICAP in Ethiopia and Management Sciences for Health (MSH), mobilizing HIV-affected communities to strengthen health systems. His leadership covered referral and linkage services, adherence counseling, tracking lost-to-follow-up clients, condom use demonstrations, family planning integration, and the establishment of adherence support groups to improve retention in care.

Earlier in his career, Kassahun coordinated a Peer Education Pilot Program funded by PEPFAR through CDC, with technical assistance from ICAP in Ethiopia. Implemented across 20 selected health facilities in Oromia Regional State, the program was later evaluated, scaled up nationally, and transformed into the Adherence Case Management Program, where Kassahun played a critical role in its expansion through the application of the GIPA principle.

Kassahun has held multiple leadership and governance roles within PLHIV and civil society organizations, including:

✔ Manager, Ethio-Life Saving PLHIV Association (8 years)

✔ Board Chairperson, Oromia Regional PLHIV Association Network (NOP+) (2 years)

✔ Board Member, Network of Networks of HIV Positives in Ethiopia (NEP+)

✔ Public Relations & Communications Manager, NEP+

✔ Executive Director, NEP+

His professional expertise includes HIV/AIDS program design and management, technical guidance provision, training facilitation, community mobilization, and participation in HIV-related research. He is proficient in basic computer applications and statistical software, including SPSS.

Kassahun is fluent in Amharic and Afaan Oromo, and proficient in English. His leadership continues to position NEP+ as a trusted national voice for PLHIV, strengthening advocacy, accountability, and community-led solutions in Ethiopia’s HIV response.

Read Biography

“When communities lead, advocacy becomes sustainable—and lasting impact follows.”

NEP+ 20th General Assembly Meeting: High-Level Advocacy for HIV Program Sustainability

World AIDS Day 2024: Take the rights path

NEP+ was established in 2004 to unite and amplify the collective voice of people living with HIV across Ethiopia.

Zero Discrimination Day 2026 – People First

NEP+ Ethiopia hosted the New RSSH Technical Working Group Meeting

🌟 Successful RSSH NEPPlus Community Engagement Orientation! 🌟

NEP+ Conducts Resource Mobilization Workshop with Partner Organizations

🌍 NEP+ Celebrates World AIDS Day 2025 at the United Nations

World AIDS Day 2025: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.”

Workshop Training of Trainers (ToT) on Reducing Self-Stigma and Discrimination

NEP+ Conducts ASK US Training

NEP+ Engages Parliament’s Health and Social Development Standing Committee to Strengthen HIV Program Sustainability

NEP+ 20th General Assembly Meeting: High-Level Advocacy for HIV Program Sustainability

Zero Discrimination Day 2026 – People First

February 27, 2026

📅 March 1, 2026 On this year’s Zero Discrimination Day, the theme is “People First.” On 1 March 2026, UNAIDS...

NEP+ Ethiopia hosted the New RSSH Technical Working Group Meeting

February 13, 2026

NEP+ Ethiopia hosted the New RSSH Technical Working Group Meeting at the NEP+ office, bringing together stakeholders to strengthen resilient...

🌟 Successful RSSH NEPPlus Community Engagement Orientation! 🌟

February 11, 2026

On Feb 11, 2026, the NEPPlus team conducted a community engagement orientation with the Ministry of Health’s Community Engagement &...

NEP+ Impact Growth Overview

18 → 60

PLHIV Associations Expanded

Years of Experience

Regional & City Networks

Network of Women Living with HIV

Who We Are & What We Do

NEP+ is Ethiopia’s national umbrella network of people living with HIV. Since its establishment in 2004, NEP+ has evolved from 18 community associations into a strong national movement uniting regional and city networks to strengthen advocacy, amplify voices, and coordinate a community-led response to HIV across the country.

GIPA Champion National Network 11 Member Networks

Vision

To see Ethiopia free from HIV and its impact.

Mission

NEP+ leads and coordinates the contribution of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in the national response to HIV through networking, partnerships, capacity building, resource mobilization, and amplifying the voices of PLHIV at all levels.