Gashaw Shiferaw

Gashaw Shiferaw is an expert in supply chain and pharmaceutical management with more than 20 years of experience working in low- and middle-income countries. Currently, Shiferaw is serving as Country Director for the MTaPS Program in the Philippines by leading, coordinating, and managing all pharmaceutical systems related activities for the project, serving as a primary liaison between the project and the local USAID mission, government counterparts, stakeholders, and partners involved with pharmaceutical management activities and implementing related programs in the country.  

Before joining the MTaPS Philippines team, Shiferaw was serving as the Supply Chain Technical Lead and point of contact for emergency supply chain for the COVID-19 Response Team of the USAID Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program. He led the development and implementation of supply chain strategies in the Philippines and designed and implemented supply chain system emergency strengthening strategies in multiple countries. He led the design and implementation of logistics management information systems (both electronic and paper-based systems) in Ethiopia, Eswatini, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Shiferaw has co-developed multiple supply chain guidelines and standard operating procedures and facilitated long-term demand forecasts in multiple countries for various health program products. Recently, Shiferaw led a study on engagement of fourth-party logistics (4PL) service providers in supporting the public health supply chains in Nigeria and Philippines. The study addressed the political-economic analysis, the operational capability audit and the cost-benefit analysis in engaging 4PLs. The study generated evidence-based advocacy and an engagement framework for government policy makers as well as the private sector. 

A pharmacist by training, Shiferaw is an APICS certified supply chain professional who holds a master’s degree in pharmaceutics.