Our People

Dilwonberish Aberra, joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014 and currently serves as a Program Officer, leading the L1P’s Scale Africa sub-initiative focusing on enabling instant and inclusive payment systems and regulatory harmonization at a regional and Pan-African level across Africa. Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dilwonberish has 20+ years of experience working on various international economic development projects. Prior to joining Gates Foundation, she worked with Habitat for Humanity International managing large Management Information Systems software implementation programs for housing microfinance institutions in East Africa. Before Habitat, Dilwonberish worked as a Microfinance and Microenterprise Development Program Manager for Refugee Women’s Network, Inc., a U.S. based women led organization providing microloans and business development services to newly arrived refugee and immigrant women. Prior to that she worked with the Economic Development Unit at both CARE and The Carter Center on economic development, knowledge management and fundraising projects. Dilwonberish has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Berea College in Kentucky, USA and a Master’s degree in Sustainable International Development from Brandies University in Massachusetts, USA.