Digafe Tufa Maru is a Project Associate at Busara, with extensive experience in behavioral economics research, human-centered design, macroeconomic policy analysis, and project management. Since joining Busara in 2021, he has contributed to several high-impact initiatives, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Data Use Partnership project, USAID-funded EatSafe in Ethiopia project, Technoserve’s Horticulture for Growth, and UNICEF’s MMS project — leveraging behavioral science and human-centered design to craft and implement evidence-based solutions.

Before Busara, Digafe worked as a researcher at the Central Bank of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute, and Precise Consult, where he conducted policy research and produced analytical reports and publications. He later served as Technical Advisor to the President of the Development Bank of Ethiopia, supporting the design and rollout of major reform initiatives. These roles have equipped him with a unique ability to bridge rigorous research with practical, policy-relevant outcomes. Digafe holds a dual Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Tsukuba (Japan) and Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia).