Dr. Shimels S. Belete is a human rights lawyer by profession with over 15 years of hybrid experience. He has worked as a lecturer and researcher in academia, as well as accumulated practical experience in election operations, human rights advocacy, CSO capacity building, and holding senior leadership roles in the INGO sector. His expertise encompasses electoral law, international law, human rights, good governance, and democratization. He has extensive teaching experience at universities and has published books and articles. Shimels also has hands-on experience in conducting in-depth political and legal analysis, developing strategies, designing and implementing programs/projects, and managing stakeholder relationships. Shimels holds a Doctorate (Dr. iur.) in International Human Rights Law, Terrorism, and Counterterrorism from the European University of Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. He also earned a master’s degree in Human Rights Law from Addis Ababa University and an LLB degree in Laws from Haramaya University. Shimels joined ECES in December 2019 as a key member of the program team, implementing the previous EURECS-I and PEV projects in Ethiopia. He served as the Training Coordinator and Civic and Voter Education & Inclusion Expert. He was particularly tasked with liaising and facilitating ECES’s overall support to the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and other stakeholders. Currently, Shimels works for the organization as Legal and Inclusivity Expert under the EURECS II project in Ethiopia.