Liya Mekonnen is the Development & Digital Policy Intern at the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Washington, DC. She is responsible for assisting the directors of the respective Programs on current projects including ongoing studies, publications and events. In addition, she supports the Office Manager’s operations through administrative contributions.

Previously an intern at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), she has experience supporting the monitoring and implementation of a regional development program focused on female economic empowerment and the green transition in Africa. Herein lie her particular interests, namely in development cooperation, feminist foreign policy and environmental protection. 

She holds a B.A. Honors in International Relations and International Organization from the University of Groningen. She completed a semester abroad at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, SA. After this internship, she will return to the Netherlands to continue her studies and pursue a Master's degree.