Desmond Alugnoa is the Co-Founder of the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) and the Africa Program Coordinator for the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). He is a youth leader focusing on Community Empowerment and Rural Innovation. Desmond’s work focuses on building movements to provide youth and gender-based leadership and support frontline communities to adapt to climate change. His work is dedicated to making the capacities of vulnerable groups and providing solutions to pressing environmental issues through youth empowerment and public education. He has a master’s degree in Public Management from the University of Potsdam, a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Cape Coast and further studies with the Zero Waste Academy in Manila, Philippines.