Ayelech Tiruwha Melese is an independent researcher and consultant based in the Netherlands. She has more than 15 years experience in global value chains and local economic development focusing on Ethiopia. She intermittently worked with the Anker Methodology since 2015 to estimate living wage in Ziway, Ethiopia  as well as to lead a living wage program for a Standard organization (RSPO). Currently she is leading a project with Anker Research Institute to develop simplified guidelines for valuing in-kind benefits. 

She has BA in business management from Jimma University, Ethiopia, MA in development studies from the International Institute of Social Studies, the Netherlands and a PhD in Social Science from Roskilde University, Denmark.

She has (co)authored several papers and published on high ranking, peer reviewed academic journals and other platforms. The list of publications can be found in her LinkedIn page here