Yovela Debesay: The Eritrean-American Economist Engaging in International Affairs, from the World Bank to the United Nations

Yovela Debesay’s journey into economics and international development began long before she stepped into any classroom or policy space. It began at home, with two Eritrean immigrant parents who instilled in her and her sisters a deep pride in where they came from.

“My father and mother made it a point to teach us the richness of our cultural heritage, not just through language and tradition, but through lessons in resilience, self-reliance, and dignity. They taught us to be proud of who we are and where we come from,” she says.

Those values laid a foundation that shaped Yovela’s understanding of identity and purpose. They also ignited a desire to give back, to work in spaces where she could contribute to improving lives across the African continent, and particularly Eritrea.

Economics, for her, became the natural pathway: “… the most powerful tool to understand systems, challenge inequity and create tangible solutions.” To Yovela, becoming an economist felt like a natural intersection of her values, her curiosity and her purpose. It was a way to help shape the world and not just study it. That mission continues to inspire her work every day.

In the past year alone, Yovela has been part of major global convenings, from the UN to Harvard and the World Bank. But it was during the Harvard Africa Development Conference that a seemingly unexpected session left a lasting impression on her. “I attended a breakout session on the power of soft diplomacy through sports, particularly how sports are being leveraged as a tool for economic development across the African continent. It was something I had not deeply considered before. The conversation explored how investments in sports infrastructure, talent pipelines, and global partnerships can create jobs, build national pride, and elevate Africa’s place on the world stage.”

For someone who grew up loving soccer and passionately cheering for Brazil and Argentina during FIFA World Cups with her family, Yovela says that was a moment of clarity. What made it even more special was the personal connection she felt. “To sit in a space where that childhood passion was reframed as a development strategy was powerful. It reminded me that economic development is not always linear or traditional. It can also live in culture, creativity and community, and those pathways matter just as much.”

This grounding in both strategy and heart is evident in how Yovela approaches her work. One of her most resonant statements, that economic development is “the difference between dignity and dependency”, reveals how she thinks about sovereignty. True economic development, she believes, gives people and nations the agency to chart their own paths, manage their own resources and create a future rooted in ownership and pride. When development work undermines that agency, it veers into dependency.

That is why in her day-to-day work, she constantly returns to one core question: “Are we expanding ownership and autonomy for the communities we serve?” To her, that question is what keeps her grounded in purpose.

Yovela is adamant that economic development must not be reduced to buzzwords. Too often, academic language and global discourse can strip economic development of its urgency and human stakes. For her, the work is not about prestige or performance. It is about people. It is about whether farmers have access to fair markets, whether young graduates can find dignified work, and whether communities have control over their land, capital and future. She aims to close the distance between theory and lived experience, prioritising solutions that restore dignity, expand opportunities and return power to the people most impacted.

This philosophy is also reflected in how she approaches building partnerships between US-based institutions and East African communities. As a member of the diaspora, she sees herself as a bridge: someone uniquely positioned to understand both the cultural context of their communities back home and the systems, language and expectations of institutions in places like the US. That duality is a strength that allows her to serve as a translator not just of language, but of values, priorities and visions for change.

Yovela’s approach is grounded in respect and reciprocity. It is about creating partnerships that are not extractive but rooted in shared knowledge and community voice. And for East African communities especially, that means honouring local wisdom, centring self-determined goals and resisting one-size-fits-all solutions. At its core, bridging the diaspora and the continent is about alignment. When both sides are seen, respected and resourced, that is when meaningful, sustainable partnerships are possible.

Working across corporate, government and public sectors has given her a sharp view of where development efforts often falter. A common challenge, she notes, is the slow pace of bureaucratic systems. While not always malicious, delays can carry real consequences. They can derail impact, waste time and discourage communities. Drawing on her experience in more agile corporate spaces, she navigates this reality by staying solutions-oriented, always looking for where progress is possible without losing sight of institutional processes. It is, as she puts it, about balancing structure with urgency.

From her vantage point, one of the biggest misconceptions about development in Africa is the persistent narrative that development must come from aid. African countries are often portrayed as passive recipients rather than active shapers of their futures. As someone deeply connected to the continent through both her identity and her work, Yovela pushes back against these limiting frames.

“Many of us understand our communities back home not through deficit, but through dignity, ingenuity and resilience. The real difference lies in development efforts that are based on collaboration and co-creation, rather than on beneficiary dynamics.” Yovela believes the full inclusion of African voices, particularly from the diaspora, is key to changing the global narrative on Africa.

Online, Yovela brings this same energy to her content. She views storytelling not as separate from thought leadership but as integral to it, especially when they are both purpose-driven. “When you are passionate about something, it becomes natural to talk about it, share it, and shape conversations around it. That is what I try to do through my platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok). I offer insight, spark reflection and invite others into the world of economic development, policy and diaspora engagement from an early-career lens.”

She also shares the unique realities of navigating global spaces as a young African woman. For her, stories are tools. “Storytelling plays a powerful role in this. Systems do not change because of numbers alone; they change when people see themselves in the story. I believe personal stories are tools for connection, strategy and transformation.”

They help connect, humanise and build momentum for systemic change. Whether it is behind the scenes from a conference or a personal reflection on identity, she uses her voice to make complex issues feel real, relatable and grounded. To young African professionals who want to enter the economic development space, she offers this: your voice, your lived experience and your perspective are already powerful. Start where you are. Speak from where you stand and stay committed to learning as you grow. Be bold, rooted and unafraid to lead with both heart and vision.

One project that currently excites her is her work with the Sadie Collective, an organisation committed to empowering Black women and underrepresented groups in economics and public policy. As part of the team supporting the Sadie T. M. Alexander Conference for Economics and Related Fields (SACE), Yovela has been working to amplify the upcoming event set to take place on 17 July in Washington, D.C. She is particularly proud of this work because it creates the kind of community she once longed for. It is a space where mentorship, visibility and storytelling come together to help young Black women see themselves in the field.

When asked what “development by us, for us, and with us” looks like in practice, she does not hesitate. It means centring communities: their histories, knowledge and priorities, in every decision. It means co-creating strategies, investing in grassroots efforts and stepping back when needed to let those most affected lead on their own terms.

The diaspora, she believes, is a vital part of this vision. Their unique position means that they have the potential to build bridges, mobilise resources and push for change on multiple fronts. For institutions, showing up for this kind of development requires more than inclusion. It requires a genuine shift in power through co-created agendas, long-term investment and a willingness to reimagine what leadership looks like. Done right, development restores agency and affirms that the most lasting change is always built from within.

To follow Yovela’s work, readers can find her on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok at @yoveladebesay. Her platforms reflect who she is: thoughtful, driven and deeply committed to making economics and development feel not just possible, but personal. For anyone curious about how to navigate this field with purpose and vision, Yovela’s journey is both a roadmap and an invitation.

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