Jiregna Hirpa is a transport planner for the sustainable cities program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Africa Regional Office. His support mainly focuses on strategy and policy development, planning and design, capacity building, and data analysis for the sustainable transport development and road safety improvement.

Before joining WRI, Jiregna was the main actor in road safety and mobility improvement efforts in the city of Addis Ababa. He supported the city for road safety strategy development by analyzing traffic crash data and preparing high crash locations map. He conducted road safety inspections and design audits for road safety improvement. As a head of the city’s traffic management agency, he contributed to the implementation of different road safety initiatives-such as safe intersection programs, speed management program, enforcement of key safety laws, and improvement and protection of pedestrian facilities-that resulted in stopping the growing rate of traffic crash fatalities in the city. With his leadership and professional support, the city of Addis Ababa expanded traffic control devices such as traffic signals, implemented dedicated bus lanes, and pilot bike lanes to improve mobility.

Jiregna was once an academic member of Dire Dawa University where he taught civil engineering courses and served as a head of a department. He also has experience in construction supervision of civil works.