Dr Birguy Lamizana Diallo is a broad based development professional with over 30 years working in the environmental services institutions. Skilled in Sustainable Development, Environmental Issues, Water Quality, Biodiversity, and Environmental Impact Assessment, she is a strong community and social services professional. Birguy holds an Engineer degree in Water Resources Management and PhD in Freshwater Ecology. Currently, Birguy leads the Sahel Initiatives and the Great Green Wall Accelerator (GGW) at the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD based in Bonn. Prior to joining UNCCD, she was managing the Wastewater portfolio in UNEP. Birguy has also worked with IUCN, coordinating the West Africa Regional wetlands and water resources programme; with Global Water Partnership as the regional coordinator for Africa Water Development and with the African Development Bank (AfDB) as Technical Advisor for their Water Partnership Programme Trust fund. Dr Lamizana Diallo was for 8 years a steering committee member of the CEM/IUCN in charge of Wetlands, drylands and urban ecosystems and a fellow Melvin Jones Companion, at Lions Club International.