Dennis B. Zinnah, Jr.

PhDc.’27 |Foreign Affairs |UNESCO Inter-Cultural Leadership |Business and Public Relations |Energy & Cross-Border Trade |Youth Development |UNSDGs

Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

About

Dennis is an international affairs professional and PhD candidate at Tsinghua University, with a focus on South-South Development Cooperation and Africa-Asia trade relations. As Secretary General for Asia-Africa Affairs at the Economic and Trade Cooperation of African Youth, he leads the Asia Secretariat, supporting cross-regional engagements and facilitating youth participation on global platforms, including the United Nations. As a UNESCO Youth for Peace Intercultural Leader, he manages the Monrovia On The Move initiative, promoting social cohesion in urban communities through youth-led dialogue and engagement. He is also the founder of DTECHSOLAR LLC and College Connect Education LLC, where he expands access to clean energy in rural Africa and supports the development of young leaders.

Experience

  • UNESCO Intercultural Youth Leader at UNESCO
    Aug 2025 - Present · 11 mos

    Selected as one of 50 global leaders (from 8,250 applicants) for UNESCO's flagship Youth for Peace initiative. This competitive, year-long leadership programme provides a $10,000 grant, specialized training, and mentorship to implement an innovative intercultural dialogue project in Liberia. As a grantee, I am part of a global network that empowers me to utilize intercultural cooperation as a strategic tool for promoting peace, social cohesion, and sustainable development. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/youth-peace-50-young-and-emerging-leaders-selected-shape-more-inclusive-future

  • Secretary General for Asia - Africa Affairs GS3A at Economic and Trade Cooperation of African Youth (ETCAY)
    Jul 2021 - Present · 5 yrs

    Appointed by the general assembly through the office of the President to oversee Beijing and Pretoria, I execute administrative duties and serve as the head of the Asian - Africa Secretariat on behalf of the Economic and Trade Cooperation of African Youth. Some oversight duties include receiving all general network correspondence relating to the network's administration, assisting in the supervision, and coordinating the efficient administration while seeking the interest of thousands of members in Asia and Southern Africa.

  • Founder/Lead Innovator at DTECHSOLAR LLC
    Jun 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 1 mo

    Identify market opportunities, manage product development, direct marketing and promotion, lead the development of financial estimates, create business plans and documents, build and lead teams at dtechsolar. As an intermediary solar product & energy service provider, dtechsolar mission is to light up Africa using mother nature.

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant at Peking University
    Sep 2022 - Feb 2023 · 6 mos

    Served as Graduate Teaching Assistant to Professor. Dr. Chen Shaofeng for his Studies on Energy Issues in International Relations. The central theme of this course was to examine how energy issues interact with international relations, specifically, how IR influences the energy market and vice versa, how energy issues affect IR, and how energy security has been factored in different countries. While delineating a global energy picture and the dynamism in the global energy market, the course mainly focuses on energy issues in Asia, with China, in particular, covering a variety of energy types, ranging from oil and natural gas to nuclear and renewable energy. While analyzing energy transition and depicting the evolving global landscape of different energy resources, this course also delved into the impact of some significant geopolitical and geo-economic events on various energy markets and vice versa. Hence, the central prism we looked at in these issues was the interplay between energy economics and geopolitics. Primary Duties Included but were not limited to: - Assisting with course preparation - Facilitating discussions and seminars - Grading and giving feedback on papers - Research support on thesis-related matters - Student support during and after office hours

  • American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) (Chaoyang Qu, Beijing, China · On-site)
    • Government Affairs and Policy
      Nov 2021 - Nov 2021 · 1 mo

      Supported AmCham China’s government affairs team in the execution of various projects, including: drafting and editing the annual White Paper on American Business in China & semi; collecting data and conducting analysis for the annual Business Climate Survey (These are two of AmCham China’s leading policy documents, which have both been cited on average at least once a day in news media around the world!) supporting ad hoc events, including helping with invitations, registration, event write-ups, etc. Researching, drafting, editing, translating and proofreading a variety of written products on US-China relations and regulatory and policy issues of interest to AmCham China members.

    • Membership Department Intern
      Aug 2021 - Nov 2021 · 4 mos

      Along with a team managing nearly 900 member companies, I was responsible for regularly communicating with companies and individuals to understand member issues, recruit and renew members, and carrying-out AmCham China’s mission to help foreign companies succeed in China. As membership Department intern, I assisted the team to connect with, recruit, and maintain AmCham China’s members.