Mekonnen has extensive experience with the SASACAWA Global 2000 as a NGO Coordinator and Trainer. He has a total of 30 years of experience as a Team Leader and Agronomist in the Ministry of Agriculture. He has a BSc Degree in Natural Resource Management from Wondo Genet University, a diploma in General Agriculture from Awassa College of Agriculture, and extensive training in general agriculture, bookkeeping, and accounting.
Mekonen is a Project Director for the Arsi-Negele Agricultural and Research project of MAI. He has also been involved in training farmers in the Langano area in farming methods that are new to Ethiopia.