Research Fellow, Center for Law, Energy, & the Environment
Email: kassahun_lidiya@berkeley.edu
Lidiya is a climate change researcher and consultant specializing in policy, law, and green energy, with over five years of experience. She has led impactful projects in electric mobility, just transition, and climate financing across East Africa, South Asia, and the United States, focusing on decarbonizing transportation and promoting equitable green jobs.
At the World Resource Institute, Lidiya conducted comprehensive qualitative and quantitative research to identify strategies for increasing electric vehicle adoption. She also successfully identified various financial mechanisms and modalities to facilitate city investments in this technology. Additionally, she co-organized technical workshops to enhance regional cities’ knowledge of battery and electric vehicle technologies.
During her tenure at the German International Development Agency (GIZ), she served as a Technical Advisor for the Green Energy project. Lidiya collaborated closely with the Ministry of Energy and Transport to devise an alternative green energy solution that significantly improved electricity distribution in rural communities. She conducted thorough research on best practices in the field and shared the findings with the Ministry and other relevant stakeholders. Furthermore, she tailored and contextualized these practices to suit the specific requirements of the project’s implementation location.
Lidiya holds a Masters in Development Practice from the Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley, and a B.S from Adama Science and Technology University in Geology. She is a recipient of the prestigious Joint-Japan World Bank Scholarship.