Dunia Mekonnen has a graduate degree in National Security Law and taught law at Haramaya University and other institutions in Ethiopia. She is the first Ethiopian/African woman to earn a National Security LLM with distinction from Georgetown University.

She received her law degree from Bahirdar University and a Master's degree with distinction from Addis Ababa University’s Center for Human Rights. Dunia is a certified Humanitarian Law and Policy Professional from PHAP, Geneva. She is a certified professional in Social work, Community Development, and Child Welfare from Jane Adams School of Social Work and Addis Ababa University School of Social Work. She has also been trained and certified by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security and earned her PMP from the Project Management Institute. Dunia is a qualified international lawyer from Ethiopia and is a candidate for the New York Bar.

Dunia Mekonnen Co-leads a sub-committee on Africa at the ICSWG PEPFAD. She also consults as a senior analyst with UPTeC. Before relocating to the U.S., Dunia worked with the UN on Human Rights, Women's Empowerment, and Child Protection, assisting the African Union Commission's Department of Political Affairs and Social Affairs in promoting human rights, child protection,and women’s empowerment. 

She is the author of Agenda 2063: Voices of African Women Today – Ethics Press