Ramona Canaan

CURRICULUM VITAE 1. Family name: CANAAN 2. First names: Ramona 3. Date of birth: 20 March 1972 4. Passport Holder: Lebanese/Egyptian 5. Education: Institution, Date Degree(s) or Diploma(s) obtained: American University in Egypt (October 2015) M.A. Master in Public Policies and Administration 6. Language skills: Indicating competence on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 - excellent; 5 - basic) Language Reading Speaking Writing Arabic Native Native Native English 1 1 1 French 1 1 1 Learning of Spanish in process (beginner) 7. Membership of professional bodies: EWFP (Egyptian Women in Foreign Policy group) AMSAC (Association Mondiale des Anciennes du Sacre Coeur) 8. Other skills: Computer literate with most Windows 9. Current position: External Relation and Senior communication advisor / UNDP Electoral Assistance Project in Egypt 10. Years within the company (UN): SCC (10 years) and USAID Senior Consultant (5 years) EU consultant ( one year 11. Key qualifications: Long-standing experience in leading development programs as project manager, External relation, negotiator , Communication and Advocacy Expert. Over Ten years of experience in governance and rule of law project (democracy building, institutional developement, capacity building). Special focus: Building consensus, support of EMB, governmental officials, parliamentary support, media , electoral assistance (election systems, voter registry, election laws, Outreach and civic education, electoral operations and management, , etc.); 20 years of professional experience with a special focus on Gender and youth 15 years of management experience (project, programme and business management; donor coordination, fund raising; advocacy, forming networks and developing communication strategies Personal qualities: team building and leadership capacity; promoting learning and career development of staff; highly motivated in working in a multi-cultural environment; stress resistant. 12. Specific country/regional experience: Country Date from - Date to Egypt -External governmental affairs and senior communication officer 2011-2015 -Communication Expert for Family Justice project 2008-2011 -Project manager on the “Think Twice” communication for child rights 2004-2008 - Business Manager 1997-2004 Bonus Advertising Agency Jordan- Regional tasks Lexicon coordinator in Egypt- Bridge facilitator 2013-2014 Tunis Bridge Facilitator (July- August 2014) Yemen Trainer and facilitator on forming education networks May 2005 Bahrain Develop communication strategy for women political participation April - May 2006 Qatar- Doha Develop communication strategy for child helpline and trainer of trainers April 2007 USA/Washington – New York Advocacy Campaign Manager for the selection of a member of the child rights committee in Geneva February 2007 South Africa Training on the role of social media and communication to advocate for the child rights May 2005 Plan and accompany Egyptian delegation for the establishment of EMB (elections) Brazil- Sao Paolo Representing Egypt in the education for all campaign strategy 12. International short missions with UNDP Mozambique Plan and accompany Egyptian delegation for international forum 2013 Mexico Plan and accompany Egyptian delegation for exchange program 2012 Korea Plan and accompany Egyptian delegation for international forum 2013 Tunis Plan and accompany Egyptian delegation for exchange program on voter registration Date from - Date to Location Company & reference person (name & contact details) Position Description September 2011 – to date Egypt UNDP, Carlos Valenzuela, [email protected] External affairs and Senior communication Advisor SB5 Responsibilities: In my current post, I do have the function of the External governmental affairs and senior communication Advisor for the Elections project UNDP/Egypt. 1-Contribute to the long term establishment of working relations with national counterparts • Upkeep of relations with Egyptian governmental counterparts based on the project’s strategy and action plan ( Minister of Interior, High election commission, Presidential election commission, Minister of Administrative development, State information center) • Follow up with other stakeholders ( political parties, research centers, experts, Media and opinions leaders on the implementation of the project activities and other UN agencies ( UNWOMEN) • Conceptualize the project’s building capacity initiatives within the national context • Facilitate working meetings between national counterparts, electoral contenders and experts • Facilitate the discussion on the women citizenship initiatives in Egypt • Initiate and facilitate lesson learned experience among countries on the integration of women in the election administration and political participation 2- Communication and Media Activities • Develop communication strategy • Oversee the production process for audiovisual campaigns • Supervise the implementation plan 3- Coordinate activities with a special emphasis on gender balance and women political participation Jan 2013-Jan 2015 ( assignment during Egypt contract) Bureau of Arab States for Elections- Jordan/Egypt Luis Martinez-betanzos <[email protected]> Focal point for the Lexicon development in Egypt – Bridge Facilitator - Form a committee responsible for the consultation on the Lexicon content - coordinate work with the committee - Bridge facilitator for the Arab League on the Gender and Media and Elections module. August 2008-September 2011 Egypt USAID- MSAD Geralyne Busnardo [email protected] Senior Advocacy and communication Advisor Responsibilities: In this post, I was appointed by the USAID/MSAD Egypt to develop the communication and advocacy strategy for the Family Justice project and follow up on the implementation with the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and the ministry of Justice, my duties included the supervision of NGOs advocacy work, and training the NGOs members, youth and community leaders on the social marketing techniques. My assignment was extended based on the deputy minister of Justice request to advise him on the restructuring of the Public Relations and Media unit, carry a structural and evaluation assessment, than propose a new organigram for the unit’s structure. Assign TOR’s for the PR and Media department’s personnel within the institution. Oversee the development of training materials, printed and audiovisual materials, developing a Branding Manual for the Ministry Of Justice. Meanwhile I was responsible to develop the communication strategy for the mediation’s office mechanism included in the personal status law and following up the implementation with stakeholders. Develop an integrated media campaign on violence against women September 2004-August 2008 Egypt [email protected] Project Manager I was the UNDP National Project Director for the Think Twice Project, my role was to strategize the relation with the national Council for Childhood and Motherhood, Egypt/national counterpart, My Duties included - Managing a communication project, supervise the technical and administrative component of the project - Meet and report regularly to donors about the project development. -Develop strategies and supervise the implementation of national media campaign through an integrated mix of communication tools on girl and women rights ( FGM- Girl political participation- girl drop out of school- violence against children- street children- child labor ) with a special emphasis on girls rights -Institutional strengthening of the NCCM employees on the use of communication for development methods. -Supervise the Community initiatives that include advocacy intervention at local level. - Supervise the Formation of a network of informal leaders and youth leaders. - During the year of the project, I have been requested to advise the Secretary general of the NCCM on the strategy to advocate for the child law amendments . For a period of one year I succeeded to form a national Coalition, develop a strategy for the advocacy campaign and coordinate the implementation of the plan. -I have been requested by the UNDP to act as the Communication Expert/Technical Member, for the development of a communication strategy for the Egyptian census campaign (Center Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, Egypt) September 1999- January 2004 Egypt Future vision/ affiliated to Bonus Advertising Agency part of the EURSG – Cairo – Egypt Managing Director and Partner Overall responsibility: Operation Manager and Partner, Future Vision Advertising Agency, Affiliate to Bonus and EURSCG – My duties Included -Setting the overall strategies of the agency, the Business Plan, Budget, Marketing strategies, and monitoring their implementation along the year. Analyzing and evaluating the agency’s performance, exerting all needed efforts to ensure customer’s satisfaction. . January 1995- September 1999 Egypt Hermes financial Company Aly el Tahry Communication Manager Overall responsibility: Communication Manager, Hermes Financial, Egypt – Duties included assisting the general manager in marketing, planning and organizing, acting as a liaison between the company and the advertising agency all the above the line campaign’s activities and executing the campaigns. September 1994- January 1995 Egypt Kidder Peabody- sister company for general electric Aly El Tahry Office Manager Kidder Peabody for Asset Management Overall responsibility: Manage office of general manager, establish archiving system, follow up on the daily work, supervise secretary and office clerks, June 1992- Jun2 1994 Egypt Triple A freight services company Graziella Sabbagh Customer relation office ( 3 days a week) Overall responsibility: Handling customer service, assess client’s request , prepare offer, prepare routing for the shipment, follow up job task that include supervision of packing, shipment door to door. Volunteer work: June 1990- January 2002: Establish AMASC international in Egypt: Establish the Sacre Coeur alumni group in Egypt. Develop database for 14000 alumni, develop curriculum for social activities for students, organize events, fund raising , implement micro project for senior citizens, cancer hospital, orphanage, September 1984-september 1989: Member of the Caritas association: Assist nurses in health centers, work with illiterate children to raise their awareness on health issues, September 1984: Member of the Scout and Mouvement partage in Egypt

Thematic Areas of Expertise