The research examines how climate change and extreme weather events affect the decision-making processes of smallholder farmers in East Africa, with a focus on time preferences, self-control, and other psychological factors. Its goal is to understand how these behavioral mechanisms influence the adoption of agricultural and financial technologies essential for economic and climate resilience. The study focuses on tools such as climate insurance, digital financial services, and agricultural apps, exploring the barriers that prevent farmers from adopting them even when they are available. By integrating behavioral economics, psychology, and human geography, the research offers a new perspective on how extreme climate events reshape farmers’ perceptions of time and decision-making patterns. The findings are expected to provide practical tools and policy recommendations for Israeli and international development actors and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to poverty reduction, food security, and climate adaptation.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects an estimated 2.5-3 million people in Ethiopia, yet most pediatric residents in the country’s public teaching hospitals have received little or no training in diagnosing or managing the condition. A recent study revealed that over 60% of pediatric residents had no autism-specific instruction, and fewer than half knew ASD can be diagnosed in childhood. This highlights a critical gap in professional knowledge, which delays early intervention despite evidence that timely diagnosis and support significantly improve outcomes for children with autism and their families. Eye to Eye’s study proposes a structured training program for pediatric residents at three public teaching hospitals in Addis Ababa, measuring its impact on residents’ knowledge, diagnostic ability, and number of ASD cases identified pre and post training. Findings will be shared with policymakers to support integrating ASD training into Ethiopia’s pediatric curriculum and fostering collaboration between hospitals and community-based autism services. By partnering with Ethiopian institutions, Eye to Eye and other Israeli development organizations will have the opportunity to build capacity, create culturally relevant training, and improve quality of life for children with autism and their families

As a doctoral student in the Department of Geography at the Hebrew University, I am conducting my research under the supervision of Prof. Eran Feitelson and Dr. Shira Bukchin-Peles. My current work examines scientific approaches in international development, focusing on various aspects of the food–energy–water (FEW) nexus and its role in sustainability. At the heart of the project is field research recently carried out in Tanzania, in remote rural communities with no access to government infrastructure. As part of this work, we are developing a new FEW nexus model and innovative methods to assess the security conditions of these communities under technological interventions and the application of new knowledge. The aim is to enhance their resilience and adaptive capacity, as well as that of similar communities worldwide.

This research focuses on testing an AI-powered microscope within NALA’s fieldwork to improve how we diagnose intestinal parasites such as Schistosoma mansoni in areas where infection is becoming less common. As prevalence goes down, traditional diagnostic tools often miss low-intensity cases, which puts communities at risk of getting infected again. NALA’s work is centered on prevention, and better diagnostics are a key part of stopping infections before they spread. This study will test whether the Enaiblers AI-powered microscope can provide more accurate, and consistent results than manual microscopy. The goal is to strengthen surveillance, reduce the workload for health workers, and make prevention efforts stronger and sustainable, supporting not only NALA’s work but, most importantly, the Ministry of Health so that elimination of these diseases can truly last.