CoST members in the Africa region have elected Eyasu Yimer to represent civil society on the CoST board. Eyasu has a long association with CoST. He previously represented Transparency International (TI) on the CoST Ethiopia Multistakeholder Group (MSG) and was Chair of that body for more than 10 years.

Eyasu was elected by a Delegate Assembly that included representation from Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique and Uganda. He will serve on the CoST board for a period of three years.

Two other nominees also contested the election: Aziz Mahmoud of CoST Sekondi Takoradi (Ghana) and Jeff Kabondo of CoST Malawi. After the results of the election were announced, both offered their congratulations to Eyasu and wished him well in his new role.

Commenting on his appointment Eyasu said: “It is a great pleasure and privilege to serve CoST, the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative. I am thrilled for having being nominated and elected by my peers in the region. My happiness is doubled when serving as representative of International Civil Society where my ample experience and knowledge will be shared to serve the constituency. I am confident and look forward to humbly serve this global movement, to achieve and meaningfully contribute to the vision ‘Quality infrastructure, stronger economies and better lives’.”

CoST Chair Chrik Poortman said: “The board is grateful to CoST members in the Africa region for participating in the election. It is a measure of the quality of civil society participation in the region that three such high-quality candidates contested the election. Eyasu has demonstrated his commitment to improving transparency and accountability in infrastructure investment over many years and I have no doubt that his considerable knowledge and experience will prove to be a tremendous asset to the CoST board.”

Eyasu replaces Vincent Lazatin, who retired from the CoST board at its last meeting, after many years of excellent service.