New employees at CMI (22.1.2010)

CMI has hired Alemayehu Behabutu, an Ethiopian national as the AU project Manager for Mediation Capacity Support Program, based in Addis Ababa. Alemayehu is a political scientist by training and Conflict/Peace and Security analyst by profession. Before joining the AU, Alemayehu (Alex) worked for over seven years in the areas of human rights; governance, working with the media and lecturing. He is a graduate (MA in Peace and Security Studies) from the UN University for Peace-Africa Programme; and holds a BA in Political Science and International Relations. 

Alemayehu strongly believes in CMI's partnership with the AU. When joining CMI he stated that the AU would immensely benefit from the CMI vision of "building bridges for sustainable security". That bridge is widely lacking in Africa-where it is most needed.”

CMI has also hired Nina Hokkanen to work as Finance Manager in the organization's headquarters in Helsinki. Prior to joining CMI Nina has worked for over twelve years mainly as a Business Controller at Sulake Corporation, Helsingin Sanomat and Accenture. She will lead CMI's financial planning and provide expert guidance for the work done in the organization's many projects.

Miia Seppänen has begun her internship in Helsinki in the Operations and Support section of the organization. Her main task during her three month internship will be to coordinate the editing process of CMI's Annual Report. She will also assist the Executive Director in external communications and strategic planning of the organization's communication structure.  

Philppe Taflinski began his six month internship at the Brussels office in the Peace Mediation and Dialogue cluster. Philippe is completing his Master’s degree in International Relations with a specialisation in Conflict Analysis and Peace Building, which he has been pursuing at the Institute for Political Studies in Lille, France. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies from the University of Maastricht, the Netherlands (2008) and has worked as a trainee at the Delegation of the European Commission to Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.