Today we’d like to introduce you to Yovela Debesay.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I would describe my journey as one shaped by curiosity about how systems work and a desire to understand how people actually move through them.
I studied economics and international development, and early on I was drawn to questions around how decisions are made, who has access to opportunity, and how those dynamics play out across different contexts, especially across Africa and within diaspora communities. Being based in Washington, DC during graduate school gave me proximity to policy and multilateral spaces, and I was intentional about learning from them, whether that was attending the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in 2022 as a Diaspora Youth Forum delegate or engaging in conversations around development finance and policy.
At the same time, I have always tried to stay grounded beyond those spaces. When I travel to Eritrea to visit family, I approach that time differently as well, not just as a visit, but as an opportunity to observe, contribute, and better understand how development shows up in everyday life. That has included volunteering with the Ministry of Information and being more intentional about how I engage with local institutions and communities.
More recently, my path has expanded across different spaces, from contributing to U.S.-Africa policy discussions, to building initiatives like the Global Climate Cooperative, to speaking and sharing insights on navigating early-career pathways in development and ecoomics. I am also continuing to explore how diaspora engagement can move beyond connection into something more structured and impactful.
I don’t think of my journey as a straight line. It has been more about learning how to navigate different environments, understanding how they connect, and figuring out where I can contribute in a way that is both meaningful and grounded in the realities of the communities I care about.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, and a big part of that has been navigating spaces that are entirely new to me and my family.
I am the first in my family to move through many of these policy and professional environments, so there has often been a level of uncertainty around what the “right” path looks like or how to navigate it. A lot of what I have learned has come from observation, asking questions, and figuring things out in real time.
Because of that, I have tried to stay grounded in a few things, remaining open-minded, staying teachable, and approaching every space with curiosity. I have learned that you do not need to have everything figured out to move forward, but you do need to be willing to learn, listen, and adapt as you go.
At the same time, I have been fortunate to not navigate that uncertainty alone. I have had a strong community around me, people who have shared guidance, opened doors, and offered perspective when I needed it most. That support has been incredibly grounding.
A big part of that has also been my dad. His perspective, values, and the way he thinks about service, responsibility, and long-term impact have shaped how I approach my own path. Even when I am in unfamiliar spaces, I find myself returning to the principles he had shared with me, which has helped me stay grounded and move with intention.
So while the path has not been linear or always clear, it has taught me how to navigate uncertainty with curiosity, humility, and a strong sense of purpose.
As you know, we’re big fans of Global Climate Cooperative. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Global Climate Cooperative (GCC) is a platform I am co-building to rethink how we approach development and climate solutions, especially in the Global South.
At its core, the idea came from a gap we kept noticing across the international spaces my co-founders were in. There is often a disconnect between global conversations around climate and development and the realities of what communities actually need and are building on the ground. There is an incredible amount of talent, knowledge, and capital within diaspora and local communities that is not always being structured or mobilized in a coordinated way.
GCC is our attempt to help bridge that gap.
We are building toward a model that connects diaspora professionals, researchers, and builders with locally led, community-based projects, creating a more transparent and accessible way to support solutions already rooted in context. Instead of top-down approaches, the focus is on enabling collaboration, resource-sharing, and long-term impact shaped by communities themselves.
What sets it apart is the emphasis on structure and intentionality. It is not just about raising awareness, but about thinking through how systems can be designed differently, how resources flow, who has decision-making power, and how accountability is maintained over time.
We have just soft launched last month, but what I am most proud of is the clarity of the vision and the care we are taking to build it thoughtfully. For us, it is less about moving quickly and more about building something useful, scalable, and aligned with the realities of the communities it is meant to serve.
Connect with us on Linkedin and Instagram!
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is being intentional about how I show up in the spaces I enter, and making sure that my presence contributes to something meaningful beyond just myself.
A big part of that is rooted in the importance of contributing to others and leaving a positive impact. Whether it is through my work, the conversations I am part of, or the communities I engage with, I try to be thoughtful about how I can add value. That mindset has shaped how I approach both my professional path and the opportunities I choose to pursue.
My cultural heritage is also a central part of that. Being Eritrean American has deeply influenced how I think about responsibility, community, and development. It is important to me that my work stays connected to Eritrea, and to broader conversations around economic development across the continent. That connection is not just personal, it informs how I understand systems, how I think about impact, and where I see opportunities to contribute in a meaningful way.
I have also become more aware of how differently opportunity and access are distributed across contexts. That has pushed me to be more intentional about how I use my time, my energy, and the spaces I am able to enter, making sure they align with a broader purpose.
At the end of the day, what matters most to me is alignment, doing work that is thoughtful, grounded, and connected to real impact, while staying curious, continuing to learn, and contributing in a way that leaves the space better than I found it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoveladebesay/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoveladebesay/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@yoveladebesay
