Muzna Shihabi Barthe
PARIS
Summary
I am a media professional with over 20 years in international development, focused on enhancing public interest media in challenging environments. My experience in strategic communications emphasizes building the capacity and resilience of media organizations in war and transition zones. My strong analytical and writing skills enable me to produce high-quality reports that contribute to understanding media dynamics in the MENA, EU and beyond.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Development Expert
Arab Center for Research and Political Studies
Paris
01.2024 - Current
Regional Communications Advisor (MENA)
CARE International
Paris
03.2021 - 12.2023
- Leading coordination of CARE MENA strategic communications and media work, particularly in support of 12 MENA Country Offices in their humanitarian emergency and advocacy objectives, crises and major events of relevance
- Support and coordinate country offices, CARE International members, and emergency, fundraising and advocacy staff during big humanitarian emergencies, anniversaries and international days; lead CARE’s Communications Working Groups for media work and debates on Decolonizing Aid
Communications Consultant
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Beirut
12.2020 - 02.2021
- Maximise IFRC’s media coverage and enhance the reputation, image and publicity of the organisation; act as Director of Media during absence of incumbent
- Actively pitch IFRC emergency and development work to foreign and Arab journalists based in Lebanon, and maintain excellent relationships with them; arrange and accompany media visits; organise press conferences; write and pitch op-eds; prepare, distribute and log press releases in line with breaking news
- Write for IFRC’s publications, annual reports, newsletters, corporate brochures, website and interagency reports
- Give media trainings for designated spokespeople; give communications training (on story-writing, photography, social media and information management)
Director of Communications
Middle East Leadership Academy (MELA)
Beirut
07.2020 - 02.2021
- Maximise positive media coverage and fundraising opportunities for the organisation
- Actively pitch the opportunity presented by MELA Program to Middle East Leaders for business growth
- Develop communications materials and advocacy messages; conduct interviews of staff and MELA members, write success stories and take photos and video; steady flow of information (updates, stories, talking points, blogs); regularly provide high-resolution, good quality digital photos and video of MELA’s work; coordinate closely with advocacy and fundraising colleagues to support production of advocacy material and production of fundraising efforts
- Give media trainings (interview training; training on how to work with the media) for designated spokespeople; give communications training (on story-writing, photography, and information management); train private sector leaders in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and the Gulf States
- Organisation of events for MELA applicants, institutional and private donors, and staff
- Coordinate with other representatives of UN and private sector partners
Regional Communications Advisor
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Cairo
06.2019 - 07.2020
- Support UNFPA’s media and communications activities to enhance the organisation’s reputation, image and publicity
- Lead content for UNFPA’s website, blog and social media channels; work with online content management systems
- Organise media visits and press conferences; actively pitch UNFPA’s work to Western and Arab media outlets; prepare, distribute and log press releases in line with breaking news or new reports; support the Regional Director for the MENA region and act as spokesperson, when needed
- Deployments: Tunis, Tunisia to gather communications material; supervise media visits; conduct media and communications trainings for local and international staff and organise an Arab Youth Event
- Bagdad, Iraq to coach Iraqi government officials and organise workshops to devise a communications strategy, in preparation for the Iraq population census
- Develop communications material; pitch reports to the media outlets, such as the ones on elders in the Arab region and women health
- Worked on a documentary on Female Genital Mutilation for Arte in French and German
Resource Development Advisor
MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab
Beirut
11.2017 - 11.2018
- Maximise positive media coverage and fundraising opportunities for the organisation
- Actively pitch the opportunity presented by MIT Program to Middle East and North African startups for business growth, to connect them with investors and invite them to regional competitions
- Develop communications materials and advocacy messages; conduct interviews of staff and startup leaders, write success stories and take photos and video
- Give media trainings (interview training; training on how to work with the media) for designated spokespeople; give communications training (on story-writing, photography, and information management); train private sector leaders in MENA states
- Organisation of events for startups, institutional and private donors, staff and host communities
- Coordinate with other representatives of UN, private sector partners and private donors
Regional Communications Advisor
International Medical Corps (IMC)
Beirut
11.2014 - 01.2016
- Maximise IMC’s media coverage and enhance its visibility
- Actively pitch IMC’s emergency and development work to foreign journalists and maintain excellent relationships with them; arrange and accompany media visits; organise press conferences
- Deployments as Emergency Communications and Media Director to Erbil, Iraq and Gaziantiep, Türkiye, to shed light on the situation of women refugees and displaced victims of Daesh violence, continuous remote support for the head office in the US and country offices
- Write for IMC’s publications, annual reports, and newsletters
- Give media trainings for designated spokespeople; give communications training (on story-writing, photography, and information management)
Fundraising Manager
Arab Reform Initiative (ARI)
Paris
09.2012 - 05.2014
- Build and implement strategic plans that support the organisation’s mission in the Arab region, maintain close contacts with donors
- Actively pitch ARI’s research work to foreign journalists and maintain excellent relationships with them
- Deployment to Cairo, Egypt to organise a workshop with Arab civil societies and donors
- Write for ARI’s publications and narrative reports to donors
Senior Communications Specialist
Adam Smith International
Ramallah
07.2007 - 06.2011
- Draft policy papers and talking points to support Palestinian negotiators’ positions in their negotiations with Israel
- Actively pitch the Palestinian negotiators’ positions to foreign journalists; arrange and accompany media visits; give presentations and organise press conferences; prepare, distribute and log press releases during the Annapolis negotiations and in times of political crisis, such as the Palestine Papers
- Write op-eds, publications on final status negotiations, annual reports, and speeches
- Brief international and regional ministers, parliamentarians, journalists on the political situation in the occupied Palestinian territory
Chief of Staff
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ramallah
10.2005 - 05.2006
- Manage the office of Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Qidwa
- Constantly inform foreign and local journalists on the Palestinian foreign policy
- Engage in digital transformation by introducing a new dynamic web portal linking embassies and improving internal communication flows
- Brief international and regional actors on the political situation in the occupied Palestinian territory
Head of Public Relations and Media
Palestinian Medical Relief Society
Ramallah
05.2004 - 05.2005
Head of Operations
Masrouji pharmaceutical company
Ramallah
09.1997 - 04.2004
Registration Officer
Al Akhawayn University
Ifrane
11.1995 - 07.1997
Education
Master of Sciences - Media and Communications
London School of Economics
UK01.2007
Master of International Studies -
Birzeit University
PALESTINE01.2006
BA - English Literature
Mohammed V University
MOROCCO01.1995
BAC Français -
Lycée Descartes
MOROCCO01.1991
Skills
- Communications Specialist
- Policy analysis
- Impact assessment
- Data collection
- Partnership development
- Resource mobilization
- Organizational development
- Capacity building
- Fundraising strategies
- Business development and planning
- Proposal development
Personal Information
Date of Birth: 02/10/73
Languages
French
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Arabic
Proficient (C2)
C2
Timeline
Development Expert
Arab Center for Research and Political Studies
01.2024 - Current
Regional Communications Advisor (MENA)
CARE International
03.2021 - 12.2023
Communications Consultant
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
12.2020 - 02.2021
Director of Communications
Middle East Leadership Academy (MELA)
07.2020 - 02.2021
Regional Communications Advisor
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
06.2019 - 07.2020
Resource Development Advisor
MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab
11.2017 - 11.2018
Regional Communications Advisor
International Medical Corps (IMC)
11.2014 - 01.2016
Fundraising Manager
Arab Reform Initiative (ARI)
09.2012 - 05.2014
Senior Communications Specialist
Adam Smith International
07.2007 - 06.2011
Chief of Staff
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
10.2005 - 05.2006
Head of Public Relations and Media
Palestinian Medical Relief Society
05.2004 - 05.2005
Head of Operations
Masrouji pharmaceutical company
09.1997 - 04.2004
Registration Officer
Al Akhawayn University
11.1995 - 07.1997
Master of Sciences - Media and Communications
London School of Economics
Master of International Studies -
Birzeit University
BA - English Literature
Mohammed V University
BAC Français -
Lycée Descartes
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