ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2025
United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. This year, 60,000+ young leaders applied to join the Class of 2025 on 7,000+ campuses across 170 nations. 290+ campuses worldwide (less than 5%) were selected to host the 4,500+ Millennium Fellows.

UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT YONAS GETACHEW GEBEYEHU, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW FOR THE CLASS OF 2025.
Addis Ababa University | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Advancing SDG 11, SDG 9 & UNAI 9

" My passion for structural engineering is fueled by a vision of creating resilient and affordable homes for all communities. The Millennium Fellowship offers me the opportunity to refine my technical and leadership skills while collaborating with like-minded peers to address infrastructure challenges. Through this program, I aim to turn my ideas into impactful projects that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and make sustainable housing a reality for everyone. "
Millennium Fellowship Project: Quality Residential Construction for Displaced Communities
This project explores how civil engineering can ensure quality, affordable, and sustainable residential construction for displaced people in Addis Ababa. Rapid urban redevelopment has caused widespread displacement, forcing many families into poorly built, unaffordable homes with limited access to basic services. Using surveys, interviews, and field observations, the study found that over half of respondents were dissatisfied with their housing due to poor construction materials, lack of infrastructure, and distant relocation sites. The research highlights that sustainable solutions require not only technical innovation—such as prefabrication, use of local materials, and green construction—but also participatory urban planning that involves displaced communities in decision-making. It concludes that improving construction standards, ensuring affordability through flexible financing, and strengthening stakeholder collaboration are essential for creating durable, inclusive, and sustainable housing that supports the long-term well-being of displaced populations in Addis Ababa.
About the Millennium Fellow
Yonas Gebeyehu is a passionate and driven Civil Engineering student at Addis Ababa University, committed to designing resilient and sustainable structures that benefit communities. His interest in structural analysis and Eurocode-based design has grown through both academic work and hands-on experience, including architectural drafting and the design of high-rise building projects. Dedicated to making quality homes affordable for all segments of society, Yonas aims to combine technical expertise with innovation to address infrastructure challenges, promote sustainability, and contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.











