Prof. Teferi Gedif Fenta
A Reliable Passage for
Essential Medicines
Teferi Gedif Fenta began his career in 1988, working as a pharmacist in a rural hospital in north‑western Ethiopia. He expected his work to be grounded in the chemistry-focused pharmacy curriculum he had studied, but he soon discovered that the reality looked very different. “The profession in the healthcare systems calls for making essential medicines available and maintaining storage conditions and safe transport for pharmaceuticals, because in many cases they are fragile. That was when I realized the importance of logistics,” says Teferi Fenta. This experience sharpened his focus on public health pharmacy, with logistics as a cornerstone in his further professional activities.
As a professor at Addis Ababa University’s School of Pharmacy, he contributed to developing curricula to help build a resilient supply of medicines in Ethiopia through the Senselet initiative. Supported by the Kühne Foundation alongside other partners, Senselet operates on multiple levels, from continuous professional development for logistics managers to training sessions for frontline staff, such as truck drivers and warehouse forklift operators. It also includes postgraduate coursework that strengthens university teaching and research. This multi‑tier model is designed for national ownership and close public‑sector involvement, so that training outcomes inform policy and standards. Following progress in Ethiopia, the Senselet approach was adapted for and rolled out in Tanzania.
Since January 2025, Teferi Fenta has been the founding director of Kühne Foundation’s LEARN Logistics office in Ethiopia. The 59-year-old is supported by a seven-member team of experienced logistics and business experts. Currently their focus is, among others, on linking universities and other stakeholders to have an even bigger impact on establishing resilient logistics and supply chain systems in Ethiopia for the healthcare sector and beyond. For Teferi Fenta, there’s another aspect to his team: delivering impact beyond what any person alone could accomplish on an issue he recognized early in his career.
“The profession in the healthcare systems calls for making essential medicines available and maintaining storage conditions. That was when I realized the importance of logistics.”
Prof. Teferi Gedif Fenta
Strengthening Healthcare
Senselet means “chain” in Amharic, one of the official languages of Ethiopia, and embodies the program’s vision: to connect people, processes, and knowledge to create reliable supply chains in the African healthcare system. Since its launch in July 2022, the Senselet Ethiopia project has seen eleven doctoral candidates working on their dissertations, 56 students completing master programs, and more than 1,800 professionals finishing advanced training. In addition, over 1,500 operational logistics staff have participated in technical and vocational training to keep their skills up to date.
Kiki Fehlauer
Prof. Dr Mirjam Schenk
Riccardo Chailly & Michael Haefliger