Zenas Engineering PLC is a privately owned Ethiopian consulting firm with over 21 years of experience in water supply, sanitation, and urban infrastructure — delivering reliable, ethical, and technically sound engineering solutions across Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.
2004
Year Established
17
Core Staff Members
465 m²
Office Compound
Addis Ababa
Headquarters
Zenas Engineering PLC evolved from the individual consulting practice of Yemarshet Yemane, and was formally established in September 2004. What began as a single-expert practice has grown into a multidisciplinary firm with a permanent professional team and an extensive national and international project record.
Registered with the Ministry of Trade and licensed by the then Ministry of Water and Energy as a Water and Sewerage Consultant, Zenas is authorized to deliver the full range of water supply, wastewater, and sanitation consultancy services in Ethiopia. The firm is also registered for government tenders with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, and is a VAT-registered taxpayer.
Over more than two decades, Zenas Engineering has built a deep reputation for combining technical rigor with contextual understanding of Ethiopia's urban realities — from community-level baseline surveys to nationally significant policy and design guideline development assignments.
Our primary objective is to provide technically reliable consultancy services aligned with national policies, actively contributing to development initiatives led by both the government and the private sector. We maintain a balanced combination of permanent staff and specialist associates, allowing us to scale our teams precisely to each assignment.
2004
Firm Established
Zenas Engineering PLC formally registered in Addis Ababa, evolving from individual consulting practice of Yemarshet Yemane.
2005 – 2009
Early Major Contracts
Secured contracts with Ministry of Water Resources (World Bank program), Ethiopian Electric Power, GTZ, and multiple city administrations across Ethiopia.
2011 – 2014
Scaling Up
Delivered landmark urban sanitation assignments — Bishoftu wastewater master plan, 7-town sanitation strategic plans (WaterAid), and multi-region UNICEF evaluations.
2015 – 2019
Regional Expansion
Extended reach to Somaliland (Welthungerhilfe), Gambella (UNICEF/Sachsen Wasser), and multiple UNICEF Ethiopia capacity-building assignments across Tigray, SNNP, and Somali regions.
2020 – Present
International Recognition
Selected as Lead Consultant for UNICEF Sudan national WASH assessment and USAID citywide WASH planning for four Ethiopian cities — cementing Zenas as a top-tier regional WASH consultancy.
Proven experience across the full sanitation service chain — on-site systems, fecal sludge management, sewerage networks, wastewater treatment, and urban environmental health.
Demonstrated capacity in preparing technical manuals, design standards, planning frameworks, and operational guidelines aligned with national policy and international best practice.
In-depth knowledge of Ethiopian sector policies, institutional mandates, urban governance structures, and the roles of federal, regional, and municipal actors in service delivery.
Civil, hydraulic, water supply, water resources, environmental, and electromechanical engineers — alongside economists and sociologists — working under one coordinated roof.
Emphasis on participatory processes, inter-agency coordination, and practical usability of deliverables — ensuring ownership and long-term application by implementing institutions.
Significant role in World Bank, UNICEF, and Water Resource Development Fund programs — consistently meeting MDG, UAP, and GT development goals with audited financial compliance.
Our permanent team spans engineering, environmental science, economics, and social sciences. We augment with specialist associates and individual consultants for large-scale assignments, ensuring the right expertise is deployed on every project.
| Discipline | Diploma | BSc/BA | MSc/MA | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil / Water Engineers | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| Socio-economist | — | 2 | — | 2 |
| Environmentalist | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Support Staff | 5 | — | — | 5 |
| Freelance / Associate Experts | — | — | — | 20+ |
| Total | 6 | 6 | 5 | 17 + 20+ |
Engineering Disciplines
Senior Leadership
Yemarshet Yemane
Founder · Team Leader · WASH Expert
Water & Sanitation Engineer with 21+ years leading national and international WASH assignments across Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland.
Mesfin Lemma
Project Advisor
Senior project advisor with deep experience in WASH program management, institutional development, and urban sanitation policy in Ethiopia and the region.
Alemtsehay Yemane
Strategic Planning Expert
Specializes in citywide WASH planning, strategic planning frameworks, and stakeholder engagement for urban utility reform assignments.
Zenas Engineering PLC holds all required registrations and licenses to operate as a professional engineering consultancy in Ethiopia, including qualification for publicly financed tenders.
| 1 | Legal Status | Registered Water & Sewerage Consultant |
| 2 | Commercial Registration | Ministry of Trade · Addis Ababa Trade Bureau |
| 3 | Professional License | Ministry of Water and Energy |
| 4 | Tax & VAT Registration | Federal Inland Revenue Authority |
| 5 | Government Tenders | Ministry of Finance & Economic Development |
Headquartered in Kirkos Kifle Ketema, Kebele 01, Addis Ababa, our 465 m² compound houses a fully equipped office with modern IT infrastructure and field-ready survey equipment.
| Equipment | Qty |
|---|---|
| Desktop Computers (engineering software) | 2 |
| Laptop Computers | 5 |
| A3 Photocopier | 1 |
| HP A1 Plotter (large format) | 1 |
| 4WD Field Vehicles | 2 |
| Total Station (survey) | 1 |
| Office Space | 70 m² |
A complete service matrix covering every phase of water, sanitation, and urban infrastructure projects.
Water Supply & Distribution
Network analysis, SCADA integration, pump station and tank design, metering systems.
Wastewater & Sanitation
Sewer planning, wastewater treatment plants, sludge handling, fecal sludge management.
Project & Contract Management
PMIS setup, contract administration, procurement support, risk and performance management.
Construction Supervision
Site supervision, materials testing, variation tracking, as-built certification, QA/QC.
Environmental & Social Safeguards
ESIAs, stakeholder engagement, resettlement plans, grievance redress systems.
Geospatial & Asset Management
GIS mapping, asset inventory, remote data integration, hydrogeological surveys.
Community & Stakeholder Outreach
Public meetings, baseline surveys, multi-lingual support, capacity-building programs.
Advisory & Planning
Business plans, tariff design, sanitation strategies, feasibility studies, master planning.
Contact us to discuss your next water, sanitation, or infrastructure assignment.