This letter certifies that Mr. Ashenafi Feleke worked as a research assistant from November 2013 to October 2014, supporting a PhD project on agricultural investments in Ethiopia's Oromia Region. As a research assistant, his tasks included translation between Amharic, Oromo, and English, assisting with bureaucratic procedures to collect secondary data and conduct interviews, establishing contacts, and organizing fieldwork logistics. Throughout the work, Ashenafi proved fully committed and trustworthy, excelling at translation and facilitating the research process through his local knowledge and contacts. The author highly recommends him for future academic or NGO research roles.

1. November 6, 2014
Reference Letter: Certification of Work Experience
To whom it may concern,
I herewith certify that Mr. Ashenafi Feleke has been working as a research assistant, supporting the
field work for my PhD research on ‘Agricultural Investments in the Oromia Region’. This research
project was made possible by the co-operation between Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany and
Haramya University, East Hararge, Ethiopia. Field work took place in rural areas of the Oromia and
Somali Regions, as well as in the following cities: Addis Ababa, Harar, Babile, Girawa, Dire Dawa,
Shinile and Jijiga.
Ashenafi commenced his work as research assistant from November 1st
, 2013 – October 31st
, 2014.
His tasks included translation of interviews and documents between Amharic, Oromo and English. He
assisted in the navigation of bureaucratic procedures; for instance to collect support letters,
secondary data and conduct interviews at government offices from the highest federal to the lowest
kebele level of administration. He established initial contacts with interviewees and supported
interviews with a wide range of actors such as agricultural experts, agronomists, investors,
supervisors, conservationists, NGO workers, farmers, daily labourers, migrants, and traders.
Furthermore, he organised field work logistics including transport, accommodation and scheduling of
interviews, as well as focus group discussions.
Throughout his assistance work Ashenafi has always been fully committed and has proved his
potential to become an excellent researcher himself. He is trustworthy and on time. During the
course of our work he has excelled at translating and interpreting between Amharic, Oromo and
English. Through his Bachelor in Development from Haramaya University he has an excellent
understanding of technical as well as social, economic and ecological processes in agriculture. He also
gave feedback to improve my research methodology. Previous work experience as a tour guide
allowed him to support my research with a wealth of information on the history, culture and customs
especially around Harar and Dire Dawa. He also has trusted working contacts in these areas, which
greatly facilitated the networking and logistics of the research process. Therefore, I highly
recommend Ashenafi Feleke as an academic research assistant, or should he seek work in any related
work in national or international non-governmental or civil society organisations.
Very Sincerely,
(PhD Candidate at Humboldt University, Berlin)Jonah Wedekind,